March, 1929 Hoover took the oath of office and
became the 31st President of the United States.
The White House as it was in 1929.
When the Hoovers moved into the White House
Lou called it "bleak as a New England barn." After
moving in their belongings, Lou set about to make
it more comfortable. She changed the Oval Room into
a family parlor. She brought in potted palms,
wicker furniture and singing birds to make the
second floor more homelike. She also started a
campaign to turn the shabby first floor into
beautiful rooms full of American art and antiques.
Since the Hoovers were wealthy, Herbert accepted
no salary (he turned it over to charity).He and
Lou paid for many of the remodeling projects.
Hoover at work.
In the campaign of 1928 Hoover promised that he
would call upon Congress to pass a farm act to
protect the farmer. In June 1929 he signed the
Agricultural Marketing Act. The Federal Farm Board
was created to help move the crops and try to keep
surplus off the market.
Congress allowed $500,000,000 for this effort. But
the price of farm products kept falling, and before
the year was out, calamity struck the United States!
The Stock Market, which was already inflated,
started to go up. People from all walks of life
began borrowing money to speculate on the Stock
Market. Banks were even buying stocks, using their
depositors money. Herbert Hoover tried to stop
speculation on the market but the people didn't listen!
Because he was in office when this tragedy struck
Hoover was blamed! Things went from bad to
worse and at the next election Franklin Roosevelt
was elected President. Despite everything that was
being done, the Great Depression lasted until WWII.
This was one of the saddest times, ever,
for America.
Here is a one example.
There were no jobs, the people were hungry and
many were homeless!!
The Hunger line.
All over the country!
People waiting for a bowl of soup!
****************************
Herbert Hoover's Administration 1929-1933.
Federal Farm Board creatd (1929) Footnote.."Hoover's Administration" was taken After leaving the White House the Hoover's More to come!
Federal Radio Commission (1929)
Financial Crisis and Beginning of Depression (1929)
Naval Treaty of London (1930)
Claims against Germany reduced (1930)
Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act (1930)
Department of Justice takes over
Prohibition Enforcement (1930)
Veterans' Administration formed (1930)
Federal Power Commission strengthened (1930)
Soldiers' Bonus Bill (1931)
Wickersham Commission report (1931)
German and Interallied Moratorium (1931)
Federal Unemployment Commission (1931)
Reconstruction Finance Corporation and
Other Relief Measures (1932)
Great Lakes-St Lawrence Seaway Treaty with Canada
Negotiated and 20th Amendment adopted (1933)
from Compton's Encyclopedia, 1950 edition.
*****************************
retired to their home in Palo Alto, California.
on the campus of Leland Stanford University.
