Monday, April 7

Discussed in class on Monday, April 7 was Herbert Hoover's response to the Great Depression.  Hoover entered the presidency in the year 1929.  Though this was the year the stock market fell Hoover did not know this at the time of entering office for I'm sure he wouldn't have taken on the task of the presidency had he known.  Hoover just had the unfortunate bad luck and timing to take on the highest publicly viewed politician job at a time of great turmoil.  His job was to either rise above the occasion and take immediate action and embody the policies of Lincoln's presidency, but instead Hoover was reluctant to take drastic measures.  There have however been men of action who have been president and there have been some less than stellar men as president.  For Hoover I think he should have never taken the job.  Not to say that he wasn't eminently qualified he did have an extensive record involving the U.S. Food Administration, his work for the food relief in Belgium, and he was Secretary of Commerce.  He was too much like his predecessors who favored limited government intervention and a balanced budget.  When the Great Depression did hit the economy and its effects were felt all throughout the United States and across every income level Hoover emphasized no government handouts and a lassiez fair approach.  He did this to focus on balancing the budget which was a goal of his administration.  Hoover did eventually help out the economy through the federal farm board and agricultural adjustment act, but it was too late by than to do much good.  The economy and the people had soured and any good will felt toward Hoover had since been tossed out the window.  Hoover continued to bumble his way through his administration never getting equal footing and never again would he get back a good reputation.  He eventually raised taxes for the wealthy, increased the tariff, and dressed and ate as if life would be back to normal any day.