Herbert Hoover: An Uncommon Man

[FollowTheLambs]

I used to be a mining engineer like Hoover, but then I took an arrow to the knee.

[RockyBalboa211]

A GREAT MAN!

[episkyros]

Herbert Hoover depended on the original trickle-down economics and was let down by it...and by the unwillingness of people to starve to death rather than ask government for help. FDR was less ideological and more pragmatic: if Hoover's Reconstruction Finance Corporation could not stimulate business to help the country, FDR reasoned that help would have to reach the country more directly, saving the market economy for what it could properly be expected to do.

[episkyros]

Herbert Hoover seems to have been an idealistic, patriotic, strangely (and fatally) inexpressive Christian man blindsided by the forces of Corporatism and general political corruption, which had no interest in preserving the notion he had of an 'American Way of Life' of 'rugged individualism'. Unfortunately, he didn't know he was half-championed by unpatriotic, backstabbing money grubbers, and he did not take charge of the Bonus Army episode.

[episkyros]

I think what lost the 1932 Election for Hoover in a definitive way was what the U.S. Army did to the Bonus Army. Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur's paranoid anti-bolshevism over-rode Pres. Hoover's instructions to simply escort the Bonus Army from the city. Under MacArthur's orders the Army acted like a goon squad and teargassed, cavalry-charged and beat up the WWI vets. Hoover said nothing and did nothing, and everyone except he knew he had just lost the Election a few months later.

[episkyros]

The best biography of Hoover I have ever read is "The Shattered Dream" (1970) by Gene Smith. It puts one in context, it is fair, and ultimately enlightening. Not that the writer comes out and says it in so many words, but the reality of Republican-Party political collusion with Big Business and the banking industry (Corporatism, as Ron Paul terms it) is what let Hoover down.

[episkyros]

Anyone who says Hoover's policies were taken by FDR are blind to something very important: Hoover REFUSED direct government help to people, whereas FDR's 'New Deal' was marked precisely by direct aid to families. When the Bonus Army marched for a second time to Washington and Eleanor Roosevelt went to meet the veterans, FDR didn't commit to paying the bonus. Instead, he helped most of those veterans get a job. Hoover did not even THINK the same way, let alone SAY anything helpful as President.

[MickeyMorandini1]

Hoover 2012 ! Bring him back !

[billyguns2]

Hoover was one of Woodrwo Wilson's "wonder boys" who when he was President introduced government meddling with the economy. Warren Harding inherited a Depression from Wilson, did nothing, and the Depression as over in eight months; Hoover and FDR meddled and their Depression lasted fifteen years. Hoover also rewarded the WW I Bonus Army demonstrators by having them fired upon by Douglas MacArthur and the U.S. Army; look it up!



[moyergirl]

Thank you for this. Just phenomenal!

[88wojtek1]

How experience of one man impacts global situation...

[armyman736]

never even heard of herbert hoover (other than him being a president) before this video. Great job!!!

[pillowsrockkk]

I...I wanted to listen, but that narration. Oh man. I can't focus on the words it is so bad.

[geekorthodox9]

i am becoming a real admirer of herbert hoover after reading more about the man whose words and ideas about the role of america in the larger world should be excavated and studied as they are somewhat ahead of their time though reflecting a conservatism that is more essential and fundamental than that reflected in the current gop.

[nixxor7]

narrator sux

[blackieutube]

i like the video mate, but if you are going to do a voice over, speak up and accsenuate the words, some parts i couldn't hear. everything else was great though! why not try JFK or Roosevelt next time??

[rentslave]

The Democrats used to love showing the people pictures of Hoover fishing after he lost in 1932.

Will they show us Obama on the basketball court in 2013?Or on the beach in indonesia if he's deported?

[tomitstube]

wow, rose colored glasses?

hell, maybe stalin and mccarthy can get these guys to do their videographies.

the narrator sucked too.

[RaiGrabski]

hoover was a humanitarian and should be praised for his efforts to help those in need, the CRB, the improvment of working conditions in mines overseas, as food administrator, excetra

[Ciaresayton]

Classical Conservatism at its finest. If it wasn't for the Rothschilds' JP Morgan engineering the collapse of the world's markets, that is. Banksters don't like it when people are actually real human beings who care about the plight of others, and help out when they are in aposition to do so. Banksters would rather get back to the business of funding both sides of every war waged.

[dpchrist26]

HE SHOULD GET THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE!!

someone that is actually worthy lol!

[jammin6816]

The similarities between Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush are striking- both serving as scapegoats. Such is the way Americans treat their presidents...

[tdt1000]

lolz Not much similarity. Hoover was a great President, much closer to conservatism than Bush.

[dookierope22320]

many people don't know this about herbert hoover is that for his entire 47 years in government he turned over each of his federal salary checks to charity. he had become independently wealthy before entering politics so he didn't need it. now how many presidents, senates, and governors did that let alone have the character herbert had.

[1animecrazyfan92]

where can i get viseos about hoover???

[tikioftokyogdeortu]

the search box?

[MartinLuther105]

FDR did nothing more than take the policies and programs of Herbert Hoover and call it his New Deal. Let us look at a possibility here. there were many good things to come from FDR I'm sorry "Hoovers policies" that we can be grateful for. but imagine if FDR was only elected twice he would have left office with the country still in the depression. WW2 is what saved him. pretty shameful president, cheated on his wife, and dies in the arms of his mistress. Hoover should have been re-elected!!!!

[Matthewsmig]

This is not correct. FDR was pro Federal relief while Hoover was a believer in voluntary relief, two conflicting policies so they where not the same policies. Hoover would have been against the bail out of the banks as FDR did.

[shanklinmike]

After the Federal Reserve started the Great Depression, Herbert Hoover and FDR's statist policies prolonged it! This isn't opinion, its a fact.....the Ludwig von Mises and CATO Institute have done extensive research on this....not only that, Ben Bernanke even admitted that the Federal Reserve created the Great Depression!

[719freethinks]

Absolutely. Have you read The Creature from Jekyll Island? I haven't studied Herbert Hoover yet, but I'm sure you'd find it interesting.

[Webins]

Thank you for this great video.

Hoover was one of the noblest and kindest man to even be President. He was also the last peace President.

Many exaggerate the Hoover-Roosevelt differences. While they differed in policies, both were smart and kind and faaaaar better than everything that came after.

[719freethinks]

I think you are oblivious to the fact that Hoover created cartels and trusts overseas where the Americans can be blissfully ignorant of the damage going on somewhere else.

[Webins]

Explain.

[Pectoris4]

Dear Thomas, As a longtime admirer of Mr. Hoover I wish to congratulate you on this fine work. What a great 10 minute summary of a 90 year life!

[ThomasZimmer]

Thank you kindly. I'll past that on to my partner.

[bittergunowner12]

Good vid, this shed Hoover in a different, better light.

[mstrsims2]

Very good video. I hope you won acclaim with the project.

did you do the full 10 min in one take? vocally you warmed up around 6 minutes. If you go back and edit it I'd suggest doing it in smaller sections.

But all that aside it is a well thought out program

I have always sais that a generation or two must pass before we can judge a president. Impartial biographers will do them justice.

Thanks for sharing

[RjPSpaceInvader]

If Archie liked Herbert Hoover, who coudnt?

[TolsmaLMC]

Great video. It was difficult for me to understand the voice of the person speaking, though.

[fsoldaten]

best 20th century US president ever, hands down. FDR just took his ideas, and forced them through. Hoover had no way of stopping the depression or slowing it down. ANd like someone said below, the WAR saved the US economy, not the Socialistic New Deal.

[prestonandrew]

you're so right, i wish more people understood that!

[bensonrt]

What are all you smoking?? Whatever !!

Stay deluded if you wish,

but Please burn your VOTER ID card !!!

[MartinLuther105]

FDR did nothing more than take the policies and programs of Herbert Hoover and call it his New Deal. Let us look at a possibility here. there were many good things to come from FDR im sorry Hoovers policies that we can be grateful for. but imagine if FDR was only elected twice he would have left office with the country still in the depression. WW2 is what saved him. pretty shameful president, cheated on his wife, and dies in the arms of his mistress. Hoover should have been re-elected!!!!

[ThomasZimmer]

Amen, brother.

[springjo1]

@MartinLuther105 You're right!

[honkycabbit]

Hoover got such a bad rap with great depression. It's not fair!

[ThomasZimmer]

Amen, brother.

[bol1923]

When I think of Hoover, I can't help thinking of the scene from the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy discovers the man behind the curtain.

(dialogue slightly altered to fit historical reality)

DOROTHY: Mr. Hoover, you're a very bad man!

HOOVER: No, I'm a very good man. I'm just a very bad President.

[billyguns2]

Hoover was in many ways a great man, but not a great president. He also wasn't the worst, as many old "historians" like to say he was; that distinction must go to George W Bush, with Woodrow Wilson, James Carter, Lyndon Johnson, James Buchanan, and Andrew Johnson not far behind. Compared to them, Hoover is a giant.

[sabz111]

no i thought woodrow wilson was a good man..he made league of nations....and if america joined it then mayb ww2 wud hav bn prevented....

[billyguns2]

Woodrow Wilson gave us the Federal Reserve, the Income Tax, the Internal Revenue Service, a completely unnecessary American involvement in a world war, and the completely insane idea that America should "save the world for democracy." What gives us the right to march into any country and make it in our image? We are still suffering from this philosophy. The USA needs to get back to its origins as a REPUBLIC.

[sabz111]

no u hav no right to do so...unless there is chance of peace being created if u do so...

[forbessr]

We're an imperial republic- like early Rome.

[LeandroCenturion]

amen to that.

[forbessr]

Wilson was an idealist, therefore destined to be disappointed. He had a typically American messiah complex. The League of Nations was a noble joke.

The Versailles Treaty made WWII inevitable- not America's rejection of the League.

[toddsmitts]

@billyguns2 Don't forget the abysmal Franklin Pierce, who sided with the Confederacy, among other things.

Hoover also has the distinction of the longest post-presidency life of any President, living another 31 years after leaving office, though Carter will break that record if he lives to September 2012.

Hoover was also the last remaining member of both the Harding and Coolidge administrations and one of only 4 presidents to reach his nineties (along with Ford, Reagan, and John Adams).

[snowdragontights]

How far did your documentary go?