Constituencies Quotes
Hoover had to cope with the Great Depression. His administration was hapless in improving the economy as he was in a philosophical bind in that he was opposed in principle to doing almost anything that would help the situation. He just did not believe that government should engage in the activities that were necessary. When FDR assumed the Presidency, it still took him 8 years to create a recovery and without WWII, it might have taken longer. It was a terrible dilemma for Hoover, because he was a very intelligent and sensitive man and this quotation illustrates the agony he was in. Critics of Hoover, observe that many millions of Americans were far worse off and his “dilemma” was an irresponsible one—his failure to do much was a great cause of American suffering.
Hoover had to cope with the Great Depression. His administration was hapless in improving the economy as he was in a philosophical bind in that he was opposed in principle to doing almost anything that would help the situation. He just did not believe that government should engage in the activities that were necessary. His 1932 campaign had him trying to explain his thinking as to why government should not do much. Stimson and many other Republicans disagreed as so many Americans were suffering so badly. However, most publicly supported their party’s President even as many had private misgivings. Hoover was thrown out of office in an FDR landslide win. His policies government activist policies and programs improved the economy but it tool almost a decade to recover.
This is why in a democracy, it is impossible for a politician to have universal support for anything.
