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Born: August 10, 1874 Died: October 20, 1964 Terms in Office: 1929-1933 Vice President: Charles Curtis (1929-1933)

President Herbert Hoover made several good decisions for America, as well as several poor decisions. President Hoover did not adequately stand up for his beliefs and what he wished to accomplish for the nation. He had a less-than-solid domestic policy, making his only real contributions to America at home in the Hoover Dam and the conservation of wild land. Hoover had some bad decisions as well, including his failure to act during the Great Depression. Collectively, Hoover deserves a C on his presidency.

Hoover's goal entering his term as president was to improve the economy. This was the first goal he aimed to achieve as president. Hoover aimed to create a Federal Farm Board which would loan money to farmers with the idea that production would be more controlled and crops would be brought to market more quickly and effectively. The Agricultural Marketing Act was also passed by Congress. Another attempt hoover made at aiding the economy was the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill. This bill raised tax rates on both agricultural and industrial products. Therfore, Ptresident Hoover achieved his goals were to some degree, but it was not without tribulation.

Hoover's relationship with Congress can be viewed as fairly poor. At the beginning of his term, Hoover had a working relatioship withe Democratic Congress that was currently in action. Hid problems them came with the 72nd Republican dominated Congress. They wanted no part of Hoover's Federal Farm Board and tariff reform. Republicans, as always, opposed the higher tariffs that Hoover strongly supported. He viewed these as a critical part of what he was trying to accomplish as president.Hoover understood he needed to help the poorer farmers through tariffs and similiar legislation, but his Congress disagreed. Hoover's Congress tended to view the matter as a non-pressing issue, as there were greater things on their plate at the time. This failure to agree and act may have been a leading cause and contributor to the beginning of the Great Depression. In perhaps a fair response, Hoover vetoed the Bonus Bill, which Congress sped through the legislature.

The action of President Hoover that had the most positive outcome was his Good Neighbor policy. The Good Neighbor policy was aimed at Latin America. Hoover went on a ten week tour of Central and South, on which he made twenty five speeches. These speeches said that America would reduce its influence in Latin America. To prove this to the affected countries, Hoover removed American troops from Nicaragua in 1932, signed a treaty with Haiti promising to end American occupation, and resolved a dispute between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. This greatly enhanced America's relationship with its neighbors to the south. This tremendous act of sound foreign policy was a very positive action of the president.

Hoover's action that had the most negative outcome for America was the Smoot-Hawley tariff bill. This bill had a terrible effect on the ailing American economy, as it greatly hampered world trade for the country. Hoover's firm stand on the bill also hurt his already poor relationship with the Republican dominated Congress. This bill was aimed to help farmer's. something that desperately needed to be done, but only really effectively lessened world trade. Passing this bill at this time was a terrible, and possibly fatal, mistake made by President Hoover.

The decision of Hoover's that had the longest lasting effect on the American people was undoubtedly his Good Neighbor policy. This forever improved America's relationship with Latin America, and increased American popularity worldwide. For an average presidency, the Good Neighbor policy truly influenced the country in a positive way. Still today America acts under these terms.

At the end of Herbert Hoover's term as president of the Unoited States, the economy was in the worst place in history. However, he did have a sound foreign policy. Therefore, I give Herbert Hoover the grade of a C on his presidency.

Bibliography:

"American President: Herbert Clark Hoover." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <[]>.

"The Complete Book of Presidents" William A. DeGrreorio