Hoover & Roosevelt

[MaC]

Watching the History channel yesterday, a show about presidents, and came across an interesting point.  One woman said, if Roosevelt was elected in 1928 when the election happened, despite his warm-heartedness and charisma, he wouldn't have gotten out of the Depression by 1933, and in 1932 Herbert Hoover, (a Republican fat-cat Businessman) would've been sucessful because he looked like he knew what he was doing.  Would he get us out?  Would there be more or less government intervention in the economy?  Would we go to war?  Any additional takes on this scenario are welcome.

[PBrunsel]

Watching the History channel yesterday, a show about presidents, and came across an interesting point.  One woman said, if Roosevelt was elected in 1928 when the election happened, despite his warm-heartedness and charisma, he wouldn't have gotten out of the Depression by 1933, and in 1932 Herbert Hoover, (a Republican fat-cat Businessman) would've been sucessful because he looked like he knew what he was doing.  Would he get us out?  Would there be more or less government intervention in the economy?  Would we go to war?  Any additional takes on this scenario are welcome.

Hoover was no fat-cat businessman. he actually invented the New deal. The Reconstruction Finance Orgainization was the first ever organization that gave direct relief to ordianary workers.

Hoover Dam was an early version of the TVA. Hoover also signed the first laws protecting striking worker's jobs.

Hoover would have had his own New Deal, and it would have worked well.

[A18]

Then he deserved to lose in a landslide, for sure.

[PBrunsel]

Then he deserved to lose in a landslide, for sure.

Hoopver was in no way a Socialist like FDR though, He still beleived in hard work and charity, unlike FDR who just thought the government could do everything.

[RJ]

Would we have social security as we know it today under these circumstances?

Hoover wasn't neccessarily stupid. He was actually a very smart person. He was just the wrong person for the job at the wrong time. People everywhere after the great depression were penniless. Many had money in the market and lost it all during the stock market crash. Hard work will only get you as far as there is opportunity for, and at that point there was none. People weren't at all happy with the opportunities created by Hoover, and so he lost badly in 1932. Side note: Hoover is the president who holds the distinction of living the longest after his presidency: 33 years after leaving office in 1933, he finally died in 1964.

[PBrunsel]

Side note: Hoover is the president who holds the distinction of living the longest after his presidency: 33 years after leaving office in 1933, he finally died in 1964.

When asked why he lived so long, Hoover responded, "I outlived the bastards."

[MaC]

well, Hoover did raise income taxes to cope with the depression, which was a step in the wrong direction; but at least he didn't involve the government in the economy nearly as much as FDR did.  Member RJ brings up the point, I ultimately wanted.  Would there even be social security?  Other questions:would Keynes even play a role in the economy?, if Hoover had the same time in office FDR had, would the governement factor in the economy even grow, or would it eventually shrink as better presidents were elected?  I found this rhetorical question particularly interesting since it's such an important turning point in American history.