What makes hoover a conservative

Quite simply, Hoover seemed never to have grasped the grave threat that the economic crisis represented to the nation—and that solutions to the Depression might have required abandoning some of his deeply held beliefs.

Hoover compounded these missteps, each of which had political implications, with inept political maneuvering. Hoover proved unable to handle Congress, the press, and the public—or difficult situations like the Bonus Army—in ways that built confidence in his leadership.

It should also be noted that Hoover's questionable political judgment and leadership was not brought on by the "Great Crash. The Great Depression, though, brought these political failures, as well as Hoover's ideological and policy limitations, into sharp relief, exaggerating their effects and paving the way for Franklin Roosevelt's victory in the presidential election. What emerges, then, for Hoover is a mixed and perhaps still damning verdict, but one that takes a more accurate measure of the President, his policies, and his politics.

Grant Rutherford B. Hayes James A. Garfield Chester A. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. He became a household name during World War I when he oversaw voluntary rationing as the head of the U. Hoover was one of the few politicians whose career benefitted from wartime public service.

After the war both the Democratic and Republican parties tried to draft him to run for president in Hoover declined to run in and He served instead as Secretary of Commerce under both Harding and Coolidge, taking an active role in all aspects of government. In , he seemed the natural successor to Coolidge. Both benefitted Hoover. His popularity among urban ethnic voters counted for little.

Several southern states, in part owing to the work of itinerant evangelical politicking, voted Republican for the first time since Reconstruction. Businesses, the thinking went, would willingly limit harmful practice for the greater economic good. I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House. It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations.

It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright — not only for one, but for two or three years. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel. Russell Kirk, the influential conservative writer and theorist of the late 20th Century, critical of the power of centralized government and how it erodes individual thought and reflection of political leaders, still found Hoover unique.

Thanks for the great post, Thomas. I tend to agree with the statement about Hoover and critical thinking.