The real Herbert Hoover

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Published 2019-10-20

Herbert Hoover had been president for less than a year when the Crash of 1929 initiated the Great Depression, an epochal event in American history that would place his name near the bottom of presidential rankings. But the engineer and business magnate, who made several fortunes in his 20s, is also remembered as a great humanitarian for feeding several million starving Belgians during World War I, and for introducing a variety of innovations in American life, from standardized traffic lights to milk cartons. Mo Rocca examines Hoover's remarkable rise (from humble beginnings to the White House) and his remarkable fall.

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All Comments (21)

@Anthony-ot8vl 4 years ago

Bringing Americans home and feeding Belgium should be enough to tell you what kind of man he was. Simply a terrible time to take office.
@nghtwtchmn129 4 years ago

Fun fact: Herbert and his wife Lou sometime conversed in Chinese while in the White House to foil eavesdropping.
@joaquinpraveenvishnu8509 3 years ago

Gosh...the man lived for 90 years, but judged by only 4 of them. Underrated for sure. The phrase 'wrong time, right place' is ringing in my head.
@heyelliew 4 years ago

And he had Charles Curtis, the first & only Native American so far, as Vice President.
@3historybuff 4 years ago

Another fun fact: During the first ever Big Game (Cal vs. Stanford) being played in San Francisco in 1892, Herbert Hoover was the team manager for the Stanford football team but forgot to bring the football. The game was held up for an hour while Hoover scurried around SF looking for a football.
@chadthurs8078 3 years ago

this segment doesn't mention he also coordinated the famine relief effort in Russia 1921-22; the Povolzhye famine - throughout history we always talk about the butchers - Hoover should get credit for saving the most lives in history
@mulberryjohn7413 4 years ago

I’m glad I watched this—- I have a new respect and admiration for President Hoover. What a LIFE— what a HEART ! God Bless Bert Hoover !
@TheRedheadedjen 4 years ago

He is a national hero of Belgium.
@stonem83 4 years ago

Also, he and his wife fought side by side with US Marines in China during the Boxer Rebellion
@abisaijorgevegaperez5289 3 years ago

Astonishing to think this man went from farming a field with an oxen and sleeping by candlelight to seeing jet powered airplanes over flying that day in the Library
@SiVlog1989 4 years ago

The History Channel documentary from 2004 called, The Presidents, hits the nail on the head when it comes to Hoover. "Before the Great Depression turned Herbert Hoover's name into a synonym for Presidential failure, he was actually one of the most respected men in America. After the outbreak of World War 1, Hoover had organised a relief effort that saved millions from starvation in war torn Belgium. He was later the Food Administrator under Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of Commerce for both Harding and Coolidge." A historian who featured in this documentary also mentioned, "history has badly blighted his reputation because he had the huge misfortune to be in office during the depression,"
@tangledwebb5044 3 years ago

We could use a generous humanitarian like Herbert Hoover again.
@steveconn 3 years ago

It's nice to have a great grand daughter in the public eye who cares about maintaining his public legacy.
@libertyann439 4 years ago

Very informative. Didn't know he was actually so compassionate.
@howardlovecraft750 4 years ago

The untold story of Hoover definitely puts a different light on him.
@Linzo24 4 years ago

I love LOVE these pieces. As kid, I used to read about US Presidents in the Encyclopedia and take notes. Nowadays, professionally I'm a researcher/archival producer. The footage and images in this piece make me smile so much. The past comes alive <3
@simrahali4032 2 years ago

I definitely did not know President Hoover made so many amazing contributions throughout his life. This is truly shocking and inspiring at the same time. He is definitely going up on my All Time Top 5 Favorite US Presidents list.
@frisco21 4 years ago

"Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again" ---Archie Bunker
@chipblock2854 4 years ago

I went to Hoover elementary school in Salem, Oregon. When I was there Hoover passed away. I remember my teacher talking about how great of a man he was.
@markaltenhoff4049 4 years ago

Having been to the Hoover Library in West Branch myself in 2018, I gained a totally new perspective on Herbert Hoover... He is a very special man, so much more so than he is given credit for.