Herbert Hoover - he's needed now (Ref:Tsunami)

Tri-City Herald ^ | January 11, 2005 | Jay Ambrose

[The Loan Arranger]

The generosity of the world in the face of the Indian Ocean disaster has been overwhelming, but there is something else on which millions of lives will depend equally as much. That's administrative skill - the sort of logistical brilliance once evidenced by perhaps the most unfairly maligned of any historically prominent American, Herbert Hoover.

With news outlets already reporting concerns about coordinating the efforts of a welter of agencies aiming to distribute food, water, medicine and other necessities to tsunami victims in South Asia, Hoover's name comes to mind. This Stanford-educated engineer, innovative businessman, deeply caring humanitarian and one-term U.S. president was supremely talented and effective in providing emergency relief, about as good as anyone gets.

A Britannica account reminds us that he first tried his hand at it - successfully - in aiding foreigners in China during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, and then was chief of the Commission for Relief in Belgium during World War I, keeping some 9 million people fed in a country that the Germans had flattened militarily.

[The Loan Arranger]

A mostly forgotten GOP president that, when his name is remembered, is used to malign other Republicans, as was done last Fall to President Bush by the Kerry people. He deserves better.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>>>This Stanford-educated engineer,

Iowa born, This Stanford-educated engineer, :)

Been to his library in West Branch.

[Larry Lucido]

I still like Coolidge better, but interesting nonetheless.

[Moonman62]

As a president he was properly maligned. As a person and for overall accomplishments outside the presidency, he did much better than most.

[Chgogal]

It must be Hoover Day! Here is another good article from the BBC, believe it or not. Below is the post.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1318496/posts

[Teslas Pigeon]

You are right that outside of the presidency he did some great things. He was not the best president, but not because he was too "Republican", not by today's standards at least. He favored government intervention in the economy, and his actions led to, or exacerbated, the depression.

[Boiler Plate]

My daughter attends Herbert Hoover Middle School here in Montgomery County, MD. It name really bothers all the libs around here and there is an abundance of them. The best part is after they graduate from Hoover the go on to Winston S. Churchill High School. Kinda brings a tear to your eye doesn't it?

[Moonman62]

He favored government intervention in the economy, and his actions led to, or exacerbated, the depression.

However, some of the worst things the government and Hoover did were unofficial. Hoover was a small government Republican, but he apparently thought that if the meddling wasn't actually law, then it wouldn't have the same bad effects. He coerced the Federal Reserve to end speculation in the stock market, thus leading to the crash. He coerced businesses to keep wage levels high, thus leading to massive unemployment. He tried to get private groups involved in helping others rather than having the government do it. But people aren't inclined to be charitable when the economy is doing poorly.

Hoover started his presidency with tax cuts, but he raised them in his reelection year. Noteworthy is how the banks had to be closed his last day in office. People apparently had no economic confidence in the impending dictatorship of FDR.