My three brothers-in-law are poets and songwriters. I am constantly amazed at their verbal dexterity in turning the commonplace into art. It is from them that I first learned of found poetry. Found poetry is a poem consisting exclusively of an external text, fashioned into a poem. It is sort of a literary collage, making … Continue reading Herbert Hoover, Found Poetry and Responsible Citizenship
Several years ago I began a series of blogs about Herbert Hoover and his connections to 20th Century American Presidents. Somewhere along the line, my train of thought was derailed, and I faltered in my task. Now I aim to get back on track. In my last blog, I wrote about Hoover and Truman. Rather … Continue reading Hoover and 20th Century Presidents: Ronald Reagan
The Great Stock Market Crash of 1929: Why History Textbooks and the Conventional Wisdom Get It Wrong By Thomas F. Schwartz History textbooks tell us that the 1929 stock market crash signaled the beginning of the “Great Depression.” Warning signs of overvaluation and buying on the margin were flashing red lights that a corrective path … Continue reading The Great Stock Market Crash of 1929: Why History Textbooks and the Conventional Wisdom Get It Wrong
Another school year is ending across America. This reminds me of all the debts that I owe to many teachers. I’m sure that others share this sentiment. Herbert Hoover held teachers in high esteem, writing an article ‘Thank You Miss Gray’ for Readers’ Digest, and giving an address titled ‘Education as a National Asset.’ This … Continue reading Another School Year Comes to an End
The Hoover Museum just opened its temporary exhibit, ‘Deliverance: America and the Famine in Soviet Russia, 1921-1923.’ In walking through, I recalled that I’d once seen some letters in the Lewis Strauss papers which discussed famine relief in Russia and Ukraine. Eventually, I remembered the name of the correspondent. Boris Bogen, coordinating the work of … Continue reading One Hundred Years Ago in the Ukraine
By Thom as F. Schwartz Lewis Strauss, one of Herbert Hoover’s close personal advisors, broached the idea of both Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt issuing a joint statement early in 1933 condemning the mistreatment of German Jews. FDR declined and Hoover privately instructed Frederic Sackett, the US Ambassador in Germany, to “exert every influence of our … Continue reading Emergency Conference to Save the Jews of Europe: Herbert Hoover’s CBS Broadcast
by Spencer Howard Here at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, we often receive questions about other famous people named Hoover, and which Hoover did what. There are a surprising number of Hoovers and Hoover families in the United States, many of whom are entirely unrelated to each other. It is not unusual for different Hoovers … Continue reading Do you know your Hoovers? An historical field guide
By Thomas F. Schwartz Herbert Hoover relied on accurate reporting from a variety of sources on the impact famine and food shortages were affecting area in Russia from 1921-23. As Secretary of Commerce for President Harding, Hoover could not travel abroad to see for himself the tragedy already gripping many parts of the Russian empire. … Continue reading James Putnam Goodrich: Witness to the Famine
By Thomas F. Schwartz Wars are always highlighted in the history books for later generations to read about. The humanitarian efforts that follow in the aftermath of wars rarely receive as much attention except by the people who are the immediate beneficiaries. After World War I, significant problems of food shortages faced many countries. Herbert … Continue reading “To All Honest People”: Hoover’s Response to Famine
by Spencer Howard When Herbert Hoover became President in 1929, one of his early initiatives was to call for a national conference on child health. Hoping to build on the work of the non-profit American Child Health Association, an organization he had founded in 1923, President Hoover announced that the purpose of his proposed conference … Continue reading Herbert Hoover’s vision for healthy children – Part 2: The Children’s Charter
