Hoover

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Hoovers Public Relief and Economic Reform

• 15.3

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Hoovers Philosophy

• I do not believe that the power and duty of the
  Government ought to be extended to the relief of
  individual suffering. The lesson should be
  constantly enforced that though the people
  support the Government the Government should not
  support the people. Herbert Hoover

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Hoovers Public Relief
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Opposition of Direct Relief

• Hoover rejected direct relief from the federal
  government for the needy
• no food, shelter, clothing, or money for needy
• Instead Hoover believed private charities best
  suited for relief
• Hoover hard work was the answer, not handouts

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Encouraging Voluntarism

• Hoover and many others believed voluntary efforts
  were preferable to government aid
• Private charities would not be enough aid

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Hoovers Economic Reform
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Hoovers Reform

• Supports gov. intervention for business
• To stimulate economy
• Rejects laissez-Faire approach of hands off
  proposed by Sec. Of Treasury Andrew Mellon

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Hoovers Programs to End Depression
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White House Conference

• meeting of top business, labor, and political
  leaders following the market crash
• Hoover urged them to maintain pre-depression
  levels of production, employment, and wages

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Public Works Programs

• Construction programs funded by the government to
  stimulate business and reduce unemployment
• Largest project was the Boulder Dam (Later called
  the Hoover Dam)
• Also built over 800 public buildings and 37,000
  miles of roads

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Federal Farm Board (FFB)

• Established to help farmers help themselves
• Offered loans and bought crop surpluses when
  prices were low

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Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC)

• Authorized to lend up to 2 bill to stabilize
  banks large companies
• Purpose strengthen businesses to prevent more
  failures and job losses
• no relief to businesses or people
• Benefits did not trickle down fast enough to slow
  depression

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Hoovers Failed Policies

• Did not work
• They were not drastic enough to halt the
  depression and Hoover continued to take the blame
• BUTThe government accepted the idea that it can
  and should do something to boost the economy in
  times of crisis