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=HERBERT CLARK HOOVER=

August 10, 1874 - October 20, 1964



 * **Political party:** Republican
 * **Term served:** 1929 to 1933
 * **Vice President:** Charles Curtis

Presidential Rating:
Herbert Hoover deserves a **C** for the success of his presidency. Herbert Hoover won the 1928 election, becoming the first Republican candidate in 52 years. His platform supported prohibition and financial assistance for farmers, promised lower taxes and continued prosperity. During the first year of his presidency, the stock market crashed, which marked the beginning of the Great Depression. The Great Depression is the most severe economic crisis the United States has ever experienced. Although the stock market crash and depression were not Hoover's fault, he had good intentions for his presidency.

The main goal of Hoover's presidency was to reform the nation's regulatory system. He saw the presidency as an opportunity to improve America by regulation and reforms. He helped pass farm subsidy bills that ultimately provided funding for farmers. The Agricultural Marketing Act developed the Federal Farm Board. The FFB attempted to stop the major reduction in crop prices by buying, selling and storing surpluses or by lending money to farmers. Hoover advocated tax reduction for low-income families, built the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge, organized the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and began construction of the Hoover Dam. Hoover's relationship with Congress was average. During the first two years of his presidency, both the House and the Senate had a Republican majority. By the end of his term, the House had a Democratic majority and the Senate continued to have a Republican majority. The first Congress passed the Agricultural Marketing Act and the Hawley-Smoot Tariff. The Agricultural Marketing Act helped farmers stay financially stable. The Hawley-Smoot Tariff raised the tax on imported goods to 60%. This weakened, and ultimately ended, trade between nations. A build up of crops and American-made goods was the number one cause of the Great Depression. The best outcome of Hoover's presidency was forming the foundation for the Good Neighbor policy. Hoover agreed to pull the American platoons out of Haiti in 1923 by 1934. In early 1933, the last marine "leathernecks" left Nicaragua. After this policy was formed, imperialism became very unpopular.

The most negative outcome of Hoover's presidency was the passing of the Hawley-Smoot Tariff of 1930. This bill raised the tariff on imported goods to 60%, making it the highest protective tariff during peacetime. Many say that this tariff was a cause of the Great Depression, however, it was meant to encourage Americans to buy American-made products, while raising revenue for federal government and protecting farmers. Although this helped many farmers, the economic depression was widespread throughout the world, and increased tariffs on American goods in other countries reduced all trade and added to the Great Depression.

The most lasting decision made by Hoover was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff. It kept a high tax on imports and influenced world trade. If each country trades with another country and raises their import tax, then the trade between the two (or more) countries will decrease, leading to an economic depression.

In conclusion, Herbert Hoover left America in shambles. Taxes were too high to trade, creating major overproduction of goods, which lead American deeper depression. Although he had a few positive events during his presidency, the negative decisions made by Hoover outweigh the positives, which is why he deserves a **C**.

__Bibliography__ "Herbert Hoover - 31st President of USA." //Squidoo : Welcome to Squidoo//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. . "Herbert Hoover - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. . "American President: Herbert Clark Hoover." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2009. .