1. Angela Brown Chapter 12 Section 5
The Election of 1932
Angela Brown
Chapter 12 Section 5

2. Hoover’s Limited Strategy
Hoover blamed depression on “world-wide economic conditions beyond our control” – not U.S. economy
Hoover’s Limited Strategy
Leaders tried to maintain public confidence in the economy.

3. Voluntary Action Fails
Hoover believed voluntary controls by U.S. business the best way to end economic crisis.
Got companies to promise to maintain wage rates. (by end of 1931 had to cut wages)
People began to blame Hoover and Republicans.

4. The Government Acts
To create jobs the government spent more on new public buildings (roads, parks, dams)
Boulder Dam later Hoover Dam began in 1930
President Emergency Committee on Employment advised local relief programs
Hawley-Smoot tariff of 1930 – highest import tax in history (to protect domestic industry from foreign imports)
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5. European countries raised tariffs – slowed down international trade
Hoover suspended allies’ payments of war debts- Europe’s economies still grew weaker
Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) – gave government credit to banks to extend loans (prosperity at top would help the economy as a whole)

6. Hoover wanted state and local government to handle relief but their programs did not have enough money.
Hoover believed in hard-work, self-reliance, balanced budget.
Public works projects and direct aid were out of the question to Hoover.

7. Hoover’s Unpopularity Grows
Hoover’s WWI relief work had made him the “Great Humanitarian”.
His attitude toward the Depression made him seem cold and hard-hearted.
Believed direct aid would destroy self-respect and create a large bureaucracy.

8. Massive government spending could help a collapsing economy.
Newspaper showed him feeding his dog on the White House lawn while people went hungry.
Finally in 1932 Hoover let the RFC lend money to states for unemployment relief. – too little to late – private charities and local officials could not meet needs.
Some economist believed theory of John Maynard Keynes, a British economist.
Massive government spending could help a collapsing economy.
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9. Veterans March on Washington
Bonus Army – 20,000 Jobless WWI veterans encamped in Washington D.C.
Wanted immediate payment of a pension bonus promised for 1945
House agreed – Senate said no
Most went home – a few stayed –
Mostly peaceful but a few violent incidents promoted Hoover to call in Army.

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12. Gen. Douglas MacArthur decided to use force to drive the marchers out.
Marchers armed with stones, bricks
Army used guns, tanks, tear gas
Many injured.
Hoover was horrified but took responsibility (images on ugly scene would help defeat him)

14. A “New Deal” for America
“FDR” nicknamed by press – grad Harvard – lawyer – NY State Senate, Assist. Secretary of Navy
1920 ran for Vice-President – lost
Summer – Polio – never walked without help again
Eleanor – TR’s niece – distant cousin of FDR

16. 1920s she worked for public housing legislation, state government reform, birth control, better conditions for working women.
FDR Governor of NY ( ) – he represented a spirit of optimism that the country needed ( broad, genile smile)
FDR was ready to experiment with governmental roles.

17. \
Wealthy but had a genuine compassion for ordinary people – due to disability
Moved by great gap between wealthy and poor
As governor – set up unemployment commission, relief administration, first state agencies to aid poor during Depression – promised a “New Deal”

18. Turning Point: The Election of 1932
It was a historic battle between those who believed the Federal Government could not and should not try to fix people’s problems, and those who felt that large-scale problems such as the Depression required the governments help.
Any democrat could have beat Hoover in 1932 – even long term republicans deserted him

19. He became grim, gave few speeches. (see timeline page 653)
FDR won by 7 million popular votes. (urban workers, coal miners, immigrants of Catholic and Jewish descent – supported)
Many voted against republicans more than for FDR.

20. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” FDR
Many had to give up traditional beliefs and accept government help to survive – under FDR’s many new programs
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” FDR
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22. Role of Image in Presidential Campaign
In what ways is image unavoidable?
In what ways can image mask the truth?
Did Hoover’s image mask his real strengths?
What was FDR’s image?
Would a candidate with a disability be elected today?
What about his image appealed to many Americans?
What are the images of McCain? Obama?