Hoover and Roosevelt

Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt both were presidents at a very bad time in American history. Their attempts to end the depression are commendable because of the pressure and hard circumstances the entire country was under at the time. Hoover and Roosevelt were very different presidents when it came to their strategies, views on the economy, spending, and the suffering American people. Hoover was more conservative and Roosevelt was more liberal in the actions they took to end the Great Depression. Each president had their own courses they would follow and what they thought would successfully pull America out of the depression.

President Hoover was optimistic and stated that the economy was “sound and prosperous” shortly after the depression started in 1929. Hoover’s first approach displayed his belief in localism and private initiative. Hoover saw unemployment as a local issue and advocated municipal and state governments to create public-works projects. He felt that people should handle their own problems with the help of his Emergency Committee for Employment to organize voluntary relief efforts. The National Credit Corporation, which Hoover urged large banks to set up, was to help the burdened smaller banks make business loans. These actions did not help and the angered Americans turned against him. Hoover recommended that Congress set up the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which put $1.2 billion into the economy, grant $2 million to state and local governments that would go towards job-creating work programs, and $750 million as loans to help struggling businesses. Although Hoover approved all of these he thought they would lead to socialism and collectivism. Hoover was more focused on blaming inte...

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President Hoover’s attempt to deal with the Depression and its victims seemed to fall short in the country’s eyes. His approach using his ideals and experience were not suited to fix the ever-expanding depression and it’s problems at that time. His belief of helping the wealthy and the big businesses would trickle down to the suffering people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. President Hoover followed this particular course because of his background and conservative views on how to help suffering Americans. President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” plan to fix the Great Depression was refreshing. Roosevelt’s more direct governmental approaches to helping the forgotten man were favorable by many Americans. Hoover’s plans were too little too late and his public opinion soured, which is why Roosevelt’s timing and plans are why he followed his particular course of action.