Herbert Hoover: Blamed
2023-09-24
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2Today we are talking about Herbert Hoover.
3He took office in 1929.
4Hoover was president for the early years of what Americans call the Great Depression.
5During those years, the United States economy slid into a severe recession.
6Many banks and businesses failed.
7 At times, nearly one in four people in the U.S. workforce were unemployed.
8Millions of people lost their homes and savings.
9Hoover did not cause the depression.
10The conditions had been in place before he took office.
11But many Americans blamed Hoover for their suffering.
12They believed he permitted the economic crisis to continue - and even deepen - during his time in office.
13Herbert Hoover was born in a small house in the state of Iowa.
14His parents were Quakers.
15Their religion valued simplicity, hard work, equality among people, and peaceful resolution of conflict.
16Hoover and his brother and sister were influenced by these beliefs, even after their parents died.
17By the time young Herbert Hoover was nine, he was an orphan.
18He moved to the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest, and lived with an uncle.
19Hoover did not thrive in that situation.
20Reports say that he usually kept to himself.
21And he did not do particularly well in school.
22Yet one official from Stanford University liked what he saw in the young man - hard work and a desire to learn new things.
23At the time, Stanford University was just getting established.
24It admitted Hoover into its first class.
25Hoover had to work hard at Stanford, both in class and to earn money to pay tuition.
26But the experience brought many benefits.
27Hoover studied geology, and went on to work as a mining engineer.
28The job led to positions in Australia, China and other parts of the world.
29He became an internationally-known expert on mining.
30He also wrote a leading textbook on mining.
31These experiences, along with good business investments, led to great wealth for Hoover.
32At Stanford, he also met the woman who would become his wife.
33Her name was Lou Henry.
34She was the first woman from Stanford to complete a study program with a degree in geology.
35The Hoovers went on to have two sons.
36During World War I, the Hoovers' lives changed dramatically.
37The family was living in London when the war began.
38U.S. government officials asked Hoover to organize an evacuation effort for American tourists who were in Europe.
39In only a few weeks, Hoover's committee succeeded.
40Later, he helped get food and supplies to people in Belgium.
41As a result, Hoover earned a public image as a smart, skilled humanitarian.
42When the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson asked Hoover to lead the government's Food Administration.
43In that position, Hoover led an effort to change Americans' behavior in order to support the war effort.
44He asked them to limit the kinds of food they ate and goods they bought.
45The effort was, for the most part, successful.
46Americans called their moves to limit their consumption "to Hooverize."
47Hoover went on to organize programs to aid other countries, including Russia.
48He also helped parts of the U.S. recover after terrible flooding.
49And, as secretary of commerce, he pushed businesses, researchers, and government officials to work together.
50Hoover aimed to reduce "boom and bust" cycles and keep the U.S. economy healthy.
51In all his efforts, Hoover urged Americans to choose to participate.
52He did not believe in using government requirements to force cooperation.
53Instead, he supported "individualism" - the idea that Americans must protect the qualities of creativity, equal opportunity, and service to others.
54Hoover's beliefs were popular with many Americans at the time - and with many Americans today.
55In the election of 1928, Hoover easily won the presidency.
56He promised to continue leading the country down the path of prosperity.
57When Hoover took office in 1929, he said, "I have no fears for the future of our country. It is bright with hope."
58That was in March.
59In October, the U.S. stock market crashed.
60Thousands of investors lost their savings.
61The event was part of a sharp downturn in the economies of the United States and of many other countries.
62At first, Hoover believed the downturn would pass.
63But as time went on, the situation grew worse.
64Businesses could not expand their workforce.
65Farmers could not afford to harvest their crops.
66Everyday people had too little money to pay for housing costs and, in some cases, food.
67And then banks across the country began to fail.
68President Hoover worked hard to fix the problems.
69He tried many approaches: creating government agencies, urging private and public groups to cooperate, and working to balance the federal budget.
70But Hoover did not want to use federal money to provide direct aid to Americans.
71He worried that such actions would make people dependent on the government, and reduce people's individual power and morale.
72Nor did he want to use the federal government to try to control the economy.
73Government intervention, he said, would lead to socialism, and eventually destroy the country's founding beliefs.
74Instead, Hoover tried to support states and businesses indirectly and urged people to find ways to help one another.
75Yet many lawmakers and members of the public rejected Hoover's measures as insufficient, and even cruel.
76Some used his name differently than they had before he took office.
77Now, they called the dirty shelters where hungry and homeless people lived "Hoovervilles."
78And they called men's empty pockets "Hoover flags."
79Although Hoover tried to persuade Americans that he was protecting their interests in the long run, voters refused to elect him for a second term.
80Instead, they overwhelming chose a president who promised an activist federal government and a hopeful "new deal" for Americans.
81After they left the White House, the Hoovers retired to their home in Palo Alto, California.
82Lou Henry Hoover died in 1944.
83But Hoover lived 20 more years, many of them working for the public good.
84He helped international relief efforts, advised the U.S. government, and led committees to reform the presidency.
85Hoover also commented on later presidents and their policy decisions.
86He was especially critical of government programs set up to provide aid and intervention in Americans' lives.
87Until his death from cancer at the age of 90, Hoover remained committed to his beliefs.
88He spoke for limiting the power of the federal government and for supporting freedom of opportunity for individuals.
89But in the eyes of many Americans,
90Hoover is linked to the failure of the federal government to lessen the Great Depression.
91I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2Today we are talking about Herbert Hoover. He took office in 1929. 3Hoover was president for the early years of what Americans call the Great Depression. During those years, the United States economy slid into a severe recession. 4Many banks and businesses failed. At times, nearly one in four people in the U.S. workforce were unemployed. Millions of people lost their homes and savings. 5Hoover did not cause the depression. The conditions had been in place before he took office. 6But many Americans blamed Hoover for their suffering. They believed he permitted the economic crisis to continue - and even deepen - during his time in office. 7Early life 8Herbert Hoover was born in a small house in the state of Iowa. His parents were Quakers. Their religion valued simplicity, hard work, equality among people, and peaceful resolution of conflict. 9Hoover and his brother and sister were influenced by these beliefs, even after their parents died. 10By the time young Herbert Hoover was nine, he was an orphan. He moved to the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest, and lived with an uncle. 11Hoover did not thrive in that situation. Reports say that he usually kept to himself. And he did not do particularly well in school. 12Yet one official from Stanford University liked what he saw in the young man - hard work and a desire to learn new things. At the time, Stanford University was just getting established. It admitted Hoover into its first class. 13Hoover had to work hard at Stanford, both in class and to earn money to pay tuition. But the experience brought many benefits. 14Hoover studied geology, and went on to work as a mining engineer. The job led to positions in Australia, China and other parts of the world. He became an internationally-known expert on mining. He also wrote a leading textbook on mining. 15These experiences, along with good business investments, led to great wealth for Hoover. 16At Stanford, he also met the woman who would become his wife. Her name was Lou Henry. She was the first woman from Stanford to complete a study program with a degree in geology. 17The Hoovers went on to have two sons. 18Humanitarian work 19During World War I, the Hoovers' lives changed dramatically. The family was living in London when the war began. U.S. government officials asked Hoover to organize an evacuation effort for American tourists who were in Europe. In only a few weeks, Hoover's committee succeeded. 20Later, he helped get food and supplies to people in Belgium. 21As a result, Hoover earned a public image as a smart, skilled humanitarian. 22When the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson asked Hoover to lead the government's Food Administration. 23In that position, Hoover led an effort to change Americans' behavior in order to support the war effort. He asked them to limit the kinds of food they ate and goods they bought. 24The effort was, for the most part, successful. Americans called their moves to limit their consumption "to Hooverize." 25Hoover went on to organize programs to aid other countries, including Russia. He also helped parts of the U.S. recover after terrible flooding. 26And, as secretary of commerce, he pushed businesses, researchers, and government officials to work together. Hoover aimed to reduce "boom and bust" cycles and keep the U.S. economy healthy. 27In all his efforts, Hoover urged Americans to choose to participate. He did not believe in using government requirements to force cooperation. 28Instead, he supported "individualism" - the idea that Americans must protect the qualities of creativity, equal opportunity, and service to others. 29Hoover's beliefs were popular with many Americans at the time - and with many Americans today. 30In the election of 1928, Hoover easily won the presidency. He promised to continue leading the country down the path of prosperity. 31Presidency 32When Hoover took office in 1929, he said, "I have no fears for the future of our country. It is bright with hope." 33That was in March. 34In October, the U.S. stock market crashed. Thousands of investors lost their savings. 35The event was part of a sharp downturn in the economies of the United States and of many other countries. 36At first, Hoover believed the downturn would pass. But as time went on, the situation grew worse. Businesses could not expand their workforce. Farmers could not afford to harvest their crops. Everyday people had too little money to pay for housing costs and, in some cases, food. And then banks across the country began to fail. 37President Hoover worked hard to fix the problems. He tried many approaches: creating government agencies, urging private and public groups to cooperate, and working to balance the federal budget. 38But Hoover did not want to use federal money to provide direct aid to Americans. He worried that such actions would make people dependent on the government, and reduce people's individual power and morale. 39Nor did he want to use the federal government to try to control the economy. Government intervention, he said, would lead to socialism, and eventually destroy the country's founding beliefs. 40Instead, Hoover tried to support states and businesses indirectly and urged people to find ways to help one another. 41Yet many lawmakers and members of the public rejected Hoover's measures as insufficient, and even cruel. 42Some used his name differently than they had before he took office. Now, they called the dirty shelters where hungry and homeless people lived "Hoovervilles." 43And they called men's empty pockets "Hoover flags." 44Although Hoover tried to persuade Americans that he was protecting their interests in the long run, voters refused to elect him for a second term. 45Instead, they overwhelming chose a president who promised an activist federal government and a hopeful "new deal" for Americans. 46Legacy 47After they left the White House, the Hoovers retired to their home in Palo Alto, California. 48Lou Henry Hoover died in 1944. But Hoover lived 20 more years, many of them working for the public good. He helped international relief efforts, advised the U.S. government, and led committees to reform the presidency. 49Hoover also commented on later presidents and their policy decisions. He was especially critical of government programs set up to provide aid and intervention in Americans' lives. 50Until his death from cancer at the age of 90, Hoover remained committed to his beliefs. He spoke for limiting the power of the federal government and for supporting freedom of opportunity for individuals. 51But in the eyes of many Americans, Hoover is linked to the failure of the federal government to lessen the Great Depression. 52I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 53Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 54______________________________________________________________ 55See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. 56_____________________________________________________________ 57Words in This Story 58orphan - n. a child whose parents are dead 59thrive - v. to grow or develop successfully : to flourish or succeed 60benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect 61consumption - n. the use of something 62boom and bust - n. a rapid increase in growth or economic success, followed by sudden economic losses 63opportunity - n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done 64prosperity - n. the state of being successful usually by making a lot of money 65morale - n. the feelings of enthusiasm and loyalty that a person or group has about a task or job 66insufficient - adj. not having or providing enough of what is needed : not sufficient