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Herbert Clark Hoover

Born: August 10, 1874

Died: October 20, 1964

Terms in Office: March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1933

Vice President: Charles Curtis

Political Party: Republican

President Hoover deserves the grade of a D+ for his presidency. President Hoover was an average president. Hoover made positive and negative decisions during his presidency. Hoover failed though to boost the economy, but not for a lack of effort. The crash of the stock markets was just the beginning of the depression. By the end of his presidency America was deeper into the depression.

Hoover’s goals at the beginning of his presidential term were to set aside money to provide better education on Indian reserves, for national park land to reserve America’s beauty, and to reform prisons. Hoover did a good job at accomplishing these goals during his presidency. He did a great job at providing money to help better the education on reservations and at making national parks. Eight months into his presidential term the stocks crashed. After the stocks crashed Hoover came up with a whole new set of goals. Hoovers goals after the stocks crashed were to establish a plan for the Federal Reserve Board to tighten the money supply and halt loans. He also wanted to stimulate the economy by reducing taxes. Hoover did not fulfill the goals that he set up after the crash of the stock markets.

Hoover’s relationship with congress was limited. Hoover let congress deal with legislation. Hoover supported high tariffs, but congress supported lower tariffs. Hoover got into disagreements with congress over many things. So Hoover’s relationship with congress was not the best.

The “Good Neighbor Policy” was set up by Hoover toward the nations of South and Central America. Hoover planned to reduce military and American political interference in Latin American affairs. Hoover pledged the United States would act as a good neighbor. After the 1932 election Hoover removed American troops from Nicaragua. Hoover in the same year signed a treaty with Haitii promising that by January 1, 1935 there would be no American occupation there. Hoover also personally arbitrated a dispute between Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. This was one decision made by Hoover that had a positive outcome.

A negative outcome of President Hoover’s term in office was the Great Depression. Hoover is not to blame for starting the whole depression, but he made some choices that did not help with the situation that the Americans were in. Hoover desired a revision of tariff rates with increases on farm products and an adjustment of a few industrial rates. Congress created the Hawley smoot Tariff Act of 1930. This Act brought retaliatory tariff acts from foreign countries. This caused foreign trade to suffer a sharp decline. The Hawley Smoot Tariff Act also caused the depression to intensify.

The “Good Neighbor Policy” had a good impact on future administrations. This policy set an example for future administrations. It showed future administrations how to deal with other countries in a peaceful way. The “Good Neighbor Policy” helped the United States to better their relationship with other countries. It also showed that America did not always have to get involved using the military.

In conclusion President Hoover did make good decisions during his presidency. For example his Good Neighbor Policy was one of his best decisions. He also set aside land for national parks and he helped better the education on Indian reserves. For all the good decisions that Hoover made he had some negative decisions. One of his negative decisions was the creation of the Hawley Smoot Tariff Act. In the end Hoover could not save the United States from falling deeper into the depression. Hoover deserves the grade  of a D+.

31. "Herbert Hoover 1929-1933." __The White House__. 25 Apr. 2010. []

"Herbert Hoover". Miller Center of Public Affairs. April 28, 2010 <[]>.