March 8 Presidential Losers: Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover, 1932

The stock market crashed one year into Hoover’s administration, and by 1932, unemployment had reached nearly 25%.  FDR went on the attack, calling the Hoover administration, “the greatest spending administration in peacetime history.”  Garner, FDR’s running mate, said Hoover was “leading the country down the path of socialism.”  FDR vowed to "abolish useless offices" and "eliminate unnecessary functions of Government," stating that "Government—Federal and State and local—costs too much.”  (I know, I know, it’s goofy-crazy-weird, but that’s what they said.)  FDR didn’t propose any very specific remedies except that he wouldn’t be Hoover, and evidently for the electorate, that was enough.  On the campaign trail Hoover ran the gauntlet of public scorn.  (Just look at him.  Can’t you tell how sad he looks?)  His railway car was pelted with rotten eggs and garbage, and one would-be assassin was apprehended carrying several sticks of dynamite.  (He wasn’t taking chances with any measly gun.)  Roosevelt and Hoover had once been fast friends, but they became enemies even faster.  After his election, Roosevelt exacted petty vengeance on his predecessor, dropping from the White House birthday card list, and changing the name of Hoover Dam to Boulder Dam.  Post-politics, Hoover turned to his first love, fishing, saying, "All men are equal before fish."  Another thing he said was, "Every time we make ends meet, somebody moves the ends."

Result

Franklin Roosevelt: 472

Herbert Hoover: 59