Herbert Hoover and American Individualism

• Core Belief: Herbert Hoover believed in American individualism, emphasizing that hard work leads to rewards. This belief underscored the necessity of citizens’ moral fiber for the very existence of American civilization.

  • Overcoming Hardships: Hoover championed the notion that individuals could overcome hardships through their own efforts and resolve.

  • Opposition to Government Aid: Hoover found the concept of direct government aid, derogatorily termed "handouts," to be repellent. He expressed this sentiment in a 1931 radio address, stating: "The spread of government destroys initiative and thus destroys character."

Hoover's Presidency and Early Actions

• Inauguration: Herbert Hoover was inaugurated on March 4, 1929. During his first presidential speech, he reiterated his beliefs concerning individualism.

• Response to the Stock Market Crash: In the wake of the stock market crash (Black Tuesday), Hoover maintained a focus on two traditional American values in his approach:

  • Encouraging individuals to tighten their belts and work harder, aligning with the ethos of rugged individualism.

  • Requesting the business sector to voluntarily maintain employment levels and continuous production to sustain the economy.

Rugged Individualism Speech

• Historical Context: On October 22, 1928, during the final stages of his presidential campaign, Hoover articulated his views on American individualism in a speech titled “Principles and Ideals of the United States Government,” now referred to as the “Rugged Individualism” speech.

Key Questions Addressed in Hoover's Ideology:

1. Government Actions During WWI: How does Hoover view government interventions during wartime vs. peacetime? Why is he against such actions in peacetime?

2. Outcome of Individualism: What does Hoover believe is the result of the American system that emphasizes individualism?

3. Implications for the Great Depression: How do his beliefs foreshadow his approach to dealing with the Great Depression?

Handling the Great Depression

• Public Assurance: In the immediate aftermath of the stock market crash, Hoover attempted to reassure Americans that conditions were not as dire as they seemed, maintaining a positive public stance even as economic conditions worsened.

  • In 1931, he publicly pledged federal aid only if starvation were witnessed, despite evidence of widespread suffering among children and the elderly.

  • His adherence to his beliefs inhibited his response to the evolving economic crisis.

Hoover's Initiatives for Economic Recovery

• Business Conference Calls: Hoover convened meetings with leading industrialists encouraging them to maintain wages and resist layoffs during the economic panic.

• Optimistic Messaging: He assured business leaders that the economic crash was not indicative of a long-term trend.

  • Hoover held similar meetings with utility and railroad companies, promising them new construction projects worth billions to maintain employment.

• Tax Cuts: He successfully persuaded Congress to enact a $160 million tax cut to bolster American incomes, reflecting efforts towards economic recovery.

Indirect Aid Through Private Volunteerism

• Principled Stance: Hoover opposed direct federal aid, viewing it as detrimental to national morale and ethics. He contended that voluntary charity was more aligned with American ideals.

  • He famously stated: "A voluntary deed is infinitely more precious to our national ideal and spirit than a thousand-fold poured from the Treasury."

• Use of Private Relief Organizations: During the Great Depression, private relief organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Community Chest, and Salvation Army, acted to provide food and shelter.

• Legislative Measures: He signed legislation allocating funds to states for public works programs designed to create jobs indirectly, emphasizing a trickle-down effect from such initiatives.

Personal Commitment and Legacy

• Personal Actions: Hoover displayed personal commitment by refusing his presidential salary and donating approximately $25,000 annually to various relief organizations.

  • He raised $500,000 in private funds for the White House Conference on Child Health and Welfare in 1930, demonstrating his sympathy for the impoverished.

The Bonus Army Protests

• Economic Downturn and Worker Strikes: As businesses cut wages in response to the economic downturn, strikes and demonstrations emerged as workers protested their circumstances.

• Bonus Expeditionary Force (Bonus Army): In the spring of 1932, approximately 15,000 World War I veterans marched on Washington, D.C., demanding early payment of their bonuses due in 1945. They camped in vacated buildings, erecting a tent city reminiscent of Hoovervilles.

  • The U.S. Senate rejected their appeal in July 1932.

• Forced Removal: As tensions grew, Hoover ordered police action to clear the camps, which escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of two veterans when police fired into the crowd.

  • General Douglas MacArthur led a military force to disperse the protesters, resulting in the destruction of the veterans' camp, which was broadcast across America via newsreels.

Hoover's Unpopularity and Reflection

• Decline in Popularity: Hoover’s resistance to direct government assistance contributed to his unpopularity and loss in the 1932 election, associating him with the widespread poverty of the Great Depression.

  • The makeshift shantytowns inhabited by the homeless were dubbed “Hoovervilles,” and newspaper blankets used by the homeless became known as “Hoover blankets.”

• Pessimistic Outlook: By summer 1932, Hoover was increasingly viewed as defeated, reflecting the collective despair of the American public during the economic crisis.