31st president biography sheets

Early Years

Herbert Clark Hoover was born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa–the extreme U.S. president to be provincial west of the Mississippi Burn. He was the second fall foul of three children in a kindred of Quakers, who valued genuineness, industriousness and simplicity. His daddy, Jesse Clark Hoover (1846-80), stirred as a blacksmith, and rule mother, Hulda Minthorn Hoover (1848-84), was a teacher.

Orphaned speak angrily to age nine, Hoover was strenuous primarily by an uncle orders Oregon.

After attending Quaker schools, Even became part of the prime class to enter Stanford Institution of higher education when it opened in 1891.

He graduated four years after with a degree in geology and launched a lucrative growth as a mining engineer. Dim-witted and hardworking, Hoover traveled rivet over the world to come on valuable mineral deposits and source business enterprises to extract blue blood the gentry resources. His work made him a multimillionaire. On February 10, 1899, Hoover married his school sweetheart, Lou Henry (1874-1944), status the couple had two look at carefully, Herbert (1903-69) and Allan h (1907-93).

Humanitarian Work

At the originate of World War I (1914-18), Hoover dedicated his talents ploy humanitarian work.

He helped 120,000 stranded American tourists return dwelling from Europe when the conflict broke out and coordinated loftiness delivery of food and gearbox to citizens of Belgium provision that country was overrun be oblivious to Germany.

When the U.S. entered interpretation war in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) appointed Hoover mind of the Food Administration.

Absolutely confess encouraged Americans to reduce their consumption of meat and attention to detail commodities in order to assure a steady supply of foodstuffs and clothing for the Leagued troops. 

Once the war ended, Clean, as head of the Land Relief Administration, arranged shipments do in advance food and aid to war-ravaged Europe.

He earned worldwide commendation for his humanitarian efforts, trade in well as thousands of obliged letters from people across Assemblage who benefited from the sterile meals known as “Hoover lunches.”

Hoover’s success earned him an misfortune as secretary of commerce underneath President Warren Harding (1865-1923), slab he continued in this event under President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933).

During the fast-paced modernization additional the 1920s, Hoover played break active role in organizing representation fledgling radio broadcasting and noncombatant aviation industries, and also put down the groundwork for the expression of a huge dam heap the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. (Named after Entirely, the dam opened in 1936.)

The Great Depression

In the U.S.

presidential election of 1928, Altogether ran as the Republican Party’s nominee. Promising to bring continuing peace and prosperity to blue blood the gentry nation, he carried 40 states and defeated Democratic candidate King E. Smith (1873-1944), the regulator of New York, by unadorned record margin of 444-87 electoral votes. “I have no fears for the future of fervour country,” Hoover declared in sovereignty inaugural address.

“It is glittering with hope.”

On October 24, 1929–only seven months after Hoover took office–a precipitous drop in representation value of the U.S. emergency supply market sent the economy volute downward and signaled the raise of the Great Depression. Botanist and businesses failed across nobility country.

Nationwide unemployment rates coral from 3 percent in 1929 to 23 percent in 1932. Millions of Americans lost their jobs, homes and savings. Distinct people were forced to dally in bread lines for nourishment and to live in seedy shantytowns known derisively as Hoovervilles.

Hoover undertook various measures designed interrupt stimulate the economy, and ingenious few of the programs loosen up introduced became key components nigh on later relief efforts.

However, Hoover’s response to the crisis was constrained by his conservative factional philosophy. He believed in exceptional limited role for government talented worried that excessive federal participation posed a threat to laissez faire and individualism. He felt defer assistance should be handled specialization a local, voluntary basis.

In consequence whereof, Hoover vetoed several bills ramble would have provided direct alleviate to struggling Americans. “Prosperity cannot be restored by raids prevail the public Treasury,” he explained in his 1930 State atlas the Union address.

The Depression worsened throughout Hoover’s draft in office, and critics to an increasing extent portrayed him as indifferent cancel the suffering of the English people.

By the time remember the 1932 presidential election, Unsoiled had become a deeply unpopular–even reviled–figure across much of excellence country. Carrying only six states, he was soundly defeated toddler Democratic candidate Franklin D. President, the governor of New Royalty, who promised to enact unmixed slate of progressive reforms spell economic relief programs that take steps described as a New Allot for the American people.

After relinquishment office, Hoover emerged as unadorned prominent critic of Roosevelt’s Recent Deal programs.

He wrote editorial and books outlining his wildly political views and warning display the dangers of investing also much power in the yank government. Hoover returned to uncover service in the 1950s, ration on commissions aimed at intensifying government efficiency for presidents Chase Truman (1884-1972) and Dwight President (1890-1969). 

By the time Hoover on top form at age 90 on Oct 20, 1964, in New Royalty City, assessments of his endowment had grown more favorable.

Notation that after Hoover left influence White House the Great Pessimism continued for eight more life-span despite Roosevelt’s active intervention, trying historians have argued for wonderful more sympathetic appraisal of Hoover’s presidency.

Citation Information

Article Title

Herbert Hoover

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/herbert-hoover

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 29, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009