Herbert Hoover had the unfortunate timing of being the “Depression President” (his term lasted from 1929 to 1933). Hailing from California, and a Stanford University graduate who made it big in business, Hoover was our first President born west of the Mississippi. Not long into his presidency came Black Tuesday in October 1929 and the crash of the stock market. This was the beginning of the end for old Herbert. Hoover didn’t believe in direct government intervention and tried to rely on volunteerism to help the downtrodden. That didn’t work, and Hoover basically lacked the charisma to inspire national confidence. Americans turned on him and became angry and critical. He lost the re-election to someone who could bring new hope to Americans: Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Hate to say it old Herb, but the name Herbert is about as forgetful as Hoover’s presidency.
