As the holiday season approaches, thoughts turn to family gatherings, festive celebrations, and delighted children. The Hoovers were not a typical family, and spent many Christmases in unusual circumstances. Take, for example, Christmas 1903. The year 1903 was significant because Herbert and Lou welcomed their first child, Herbert Charles Hoover, into the world on August … Continue reading Christmas 1903
by Spencer Howard Before the days of international air travel, when passenger liners ruled the oceans and crossings were measured in days instead of hours, two passenger liners were named in honor of President Hoover. On December 9, 1930, the first SS President Hoover was christened by First Lady Lou Henry Hoover in Newport News, … Continue reading SS PresidentHoover
Shortly after her return to the United States to enroll her two young sons in school, Lou Hoover received an urgent telegram from her husband. Herbert Hoover, the head of the newly created Commission for Relief in Belgium [CRB], outlined the dire situation in Belgium: “OVER ONE MILLION PEOPLE ON BREAD LINE IN BELGIUM AT … Continue reading Lou Hoover’s Reflections on Reflectors
Herbert Hoover mentored and befriended many young men and women who latter achieved prominence in diverse fields of endeavor. One such relationship was with a young diplomat, Hugh Gibson, serving as secretary of the legation in Brussels, Belgium during the early years of World War I. Gibson was present during the meeting when the United … Continue reading The Making of the Modern Myth
It should come as no surprise that Herbert Hoover and J. Edgar Hoover were frequently confused during their lives and remain so in death. The two men were not related, and they first crossed paths in Washington in the early 1920s. While the Clint Eastwood film has a scene depicting Attorney General Harlan Fiske Stone … Continue reading A Tale of Two Hoovers
This is the headline of a story in the November 9, 1932 issue of the New York Times. Hoover was on a train traveling to Palo Alto where he was going to vote in the 1932 election when officials said they believed an attempt was made to wreck Hoover's special train. The article read as follows: … Continue reading Supposed Plot Against Hoover Train is Foiled
by Spencer Howard Fall means it is time for "America's pastime" playoffs! Herbert Hoover was a fan of baseball throughout his life; as President he had the traditional honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch to open the season for the Washington Senators, and he attended other games when he had the time. He even made a … Continue reading Hoover on Baseball
One of the many improvements to the White House was undertaken by President Calvin Coolidge. In 1927, Coolidge replaced 100-year-old pine beams with an expanded third floor using a steel frame. Of the most under-appreciated endeavors of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover are her efforts to preserve and document the rich history of the White … Continue reading Recollections Of A Piece of Wood 1930
On March 18, 1928, an urgent telegram was received by Lou Henry Hoover from Lady Lister-Kay, wife of Sir John Lister-Kay groom-in-waiting to King Edward VII. Lady Lister-Kay queried: "I was horrified to read in the papers this morning of the very narrow escape you had in your automobile yesterday which most happily and mercifully ended … Continue reading Making a Mountain out of a Mole Hill
by Spencer Howard During and after World War I, Herbert Hoover led two great humanitarian organizations, the Commission for Relief in Belgium and the American Relief Administration. Of special concern to both organizations was the plight of children in war-ravaged Europe, and under Hoover's direction over 15 million children received food, clothing, and other assistance. … Continue reading Child Health Day
