[VIDEO] Herbert Hoover served as the 31st P.O.T.U.S. from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy man who served during the administrations of Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge (29th & 30th P.O.T.U.S. respectively) as Secretary of Commerce. He was instrumental in the disastrous flooding along the Mississippi River in 1927. He regulated radio stations and air travel.
During the 1st World War he was helpful in ensuring food was available to civilians in European war zones particularly near the western front. He also was part of the effort to ensure that American troops were able to be fed, of course this meant American civilians has to make their own adjustments to provide food for our Doughboys in service...over there.
And then he became President himself and got hit with what we now know as the Great Depression. History records him as one of America's worst presidents. History records that he wasn't able to adequately address this economic crisis. Some might say he made it worse by some of his policies or even just a belief that gov't shouldn't get too involved in people's lives.
Of course as far as making the Depression worse, that argument has been made towards the man who defeated Hoover in his re-election bid. A man known as Franklin D. Roosevelt who served as the 32nd P.O.T.U.S. from 1933 to 1945. Unlike Hoover, FDR was a far more capable politician and was able to instill confidence in the American people during the crises that he presided over which was not only the Depress, he presided over America's involvement in the 2nd World War.
Meanwhile, former President Hoover these days is known as one of the greatest former Presidents. He remained active and often served another president - Harry Truman 33rd P.O.T.U.S. And did you know he even was on a call with regards to the Cuban Missile Crisis with yet another successor John F. Kennedy the 35th P.O.T.U.S.?
In any case until his death in 1964 he was one of three former Presidents still living which included Dwight Eisenhower the 34th P.O.T.U.S. and the aforementioned Truman. He even outlived the youngest man elected President the aforementioned JFK who was elected aged 43 and died aged 46.
These days the role of a very active and longest living President of the United States goes to Jimmy Carter who served as the 39th P.O.T.U.S. from 1977 to 1981 and is aged 97 as of this writing.
A fascinating look at someone who has often been maligned even now. Hoover's name comes up especially with regards to economic issues, certainly as far as a comparison with regards to the early years of the depression to whatever economic issues are going on currently. However, even if his presidency wasn't very successful Hoover made significant contributions to the world outside of his one term.
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