Cloze Exercise

The 1932 Presidential Election

How Useless was Hoover?

• Herbert Hoover = mining engineer & multi-millionaire.

• Won 1928 presidency in landslide, promising ‘triumph over poverty’ and ‘a ’.

• Failed to end Depression; blamed by Americans.

• Shanty towns = 'Hoovervilles'; ‘’ = cardboard shoe soles; 'Hoover blankets' = newspapers; 'Hoover flags' = empty pockets.

YES HE DID FAIL

• Believed in ‘’ & laissez-faire → govt ≠ interfere with business or charity.

• He tried to protect American industry with the Tariff (1930) → highest import duties in US history → stopped imports but retaliatory tariffs by 60 nations ruined US exports.

• Sent army to clear WWI veterans’ Hooverville → seen as cruel attack on heroes.

• To protect US jobs → tens of 1,000s of Mexican-Americans deported under the MEXICAN (1929–37)

NO HE DID MUCH TO ADDRESS IT

• (1931) → union wages mandatory on federal construction contracts.

• Committee for Unemployment Relief (1931) → advised charities on aid for unemployed.

• E (1932) → $300m for unemployment pay.

• $4b allocated to public works, incl. Hoover Dam.

• (1932) → $1.5b in loans to businesses & states.

• Norris-La Guardia Act (1932) → banned yellow dog contracts; protected right to strike.

• Banking Act (1932) → Fed Reserve could loan struggling banks funds.

Why did Hoover lose the 1932 Presidential Election?

HOOVER'S CAMPAIGN

• Raised top income tax rate → 25% → 63% to fund anti-recession measures.

• Blamed for Depression → slogan: ‘In Hoover we trusted, now we are ’.

• Policies clearly ≠ end Depression.

• Bonus Army attack → outrage against perceived mistreatment of veterans.

• switched to FDR’s Democrats.

• Poor speaker; only 9 radio speeches.

• Claimed US would soon ‘turn the corner’ → no concrete hope.

• Campaign train pelted with eggs; banners: ‘Hang Hoover’.

• Faced multiple assassination attempts.

ROOSEVELT'S CAMPAIGN

• As NY Governor, spent $20m on welfare.

• Wife Eleanor Roosevelt = advocate for poor.

• Wheelchair-user → symbolized overcoming adversity.

• Promised 3Rs (Relief, Recovery, ) & a ‘New Deal’ → public works, welfare, industry & farm aid, banking reform.

• Vigorously campaigned → up to 15 speeches/day.

• Optimistic tone → campaign song: ‘Happy Days are Here Again’.

• Blamed Depression on bankers/rich → declared election a ‘Crusade to restore America’.

• Promised to end .

FDR’s landslide: Hoover won only 6 of 48 states = worst defeat ever

How Useless was Hoover?

• Herbert Hoover = mining engineer & multi-millionaire.

• Won 1928 presidency in landslide, promising ‘triumph over poverty’ and ‘a CHICKEN IN EVERY POT’.

• Failed to end Depression; blamed by Americans.

• Shanty towns = 'Hoovervilles'; ‘HOOVER LEATHER’ = cardboard shoe soles; 'Hoover blankets' = newspapers; 'Hoover flags' = empty pockets.

YES HE DID FAIL

• Believed in ‘RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM’ & laissez-faire → govt ≠ interfere with business or charity.

• He tried to protect American industry with the SMOOT-HAWLEY Tariff (1930) → highest import duties in US history → stopped imports but retaliatory tariffs by 60 nations ruined US exports.

• Sent army to clear WWI veterans’ Hooverville → seen as cruel attack on heroes.

• To protect US jobs → tens of 1,000s of Mexican-Americans deported under the MEXICAN REPATRIATION PROGRAMME (1929–37)

NO HE DID MUCH TO ADDRESS IT

• DAVIS-BACON ACT (1931) → union wages mandatory on federal construction contracts.

• Committee for Unemployment Relief (1931) → advised charities on aid for unemployed.

• EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT (1932) → $300m for unemployment pay.

• $4b allocated to public works, incl. Hoover Dam.

• RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION (1932) → $1.5b in loans to businesses & states.

• Norris-La Guardia Act (1932) → banned yellow dog contracts; protected right to strike.

• Banking Act (1932) → Fed Reserve could loan struggling banks funds.

Why did Hoover lose the 1932 Presidential Election?

HOOVER'S CAMPAIGN

• Raised top income tax rate → 25% → 63% to fund anti-recession measures.

• Blamed for Depression → slogan: ‘In Hoover we trusted, now we are BUSTED’.

• Policies clearly ≠ end Depression.

• Bonus Army attack → outrage against perceived mistreatment of veterans.

• BLACK VOTE switched to FDR’s Democrats.

• Poor speaker; only 9 radio speeches.

• Claimed US would soon ‘turn the corner’ → no concrete hope.

• Campaign train pelted with eggs; banners: ‘Hang Hoover’.

• Faced multiple assassination attempts.

ROOSEVELT'S CAMPAIGN

• As NY Governor, spent $20m on welfare.

• Wife Eleanor Roosevelt = advocate for poor.

• Wheelchair-user → symbolized overcoming adversity.

• Promised 3Rs (Relief, Recovery, REFORM) & a ‘New Deal’ → public works, welfare, industry & farm aid, banking reform.

• Vigorously campaigned → up to 15 speeches/day.

• Optimistic tone → campaign song: ‘Happy Days are Here Again’.

• Blamed Depression on bankers/rich → declared election a ‘Crusade to restore America’.

• Promised to end PROHIBITION.

FDR’s landslide: Hoover won only 6 of 48 states = worst defeat ever