Born: 1874, West Branch, IA
Died: 1964

An austere childhood demanded self-reliance and discipline of Herbert Hoover, values he championed throughout his life. A son of Iowa Quakers, he was orphaned at nine, joined relatives in Oregon, and eventually put himself through Stanford University, becoming a mining engineer. He earned a fortune working around the world, and also earned a reputation as a humanitarian for directing American relief efforts in Europe during World War I. After serving as Commerce Secretary under Harding and Coolidge, he became the 1928 Republican Presidential nominee. Aided by the nation’s prosperity, plus anti-Catholic sentiment against Democrat Al Smith, Hoover swept to victory.

On October 29, 1929, “Black Tuesday,” the stock-market crash plunged thousands of businesses and individuals into bankruptcy, ushering in the most protracted economic downturn in American history, the Great Depression. Hoover cut taxes, increased public works and created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to make government loans. But he drew the line at direct loans to individuals, even though 12 million Americans were unemployed. Shanty towns of homeless families became known as “Hoovervilles,” and the beleaguered President was turned out of office in the 1932 election. Fifteen years later, President Truman appointed him to head the European food program after World War II.

Thirty-First President
Republican