Hoover's Leadership Crisis

This chapter explores President Hoover's struggles during the post-1929 market crash, focusing on the political tensions surrounding the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act and his resistance to federal public works programs. It highlights the economic turmoil faced by American farmers and the catastrophic bank failures that ensued, culminating in widespread panic. The stark contrast between Hoover's and Roosevelt's approaches to the economic crisis is emphasized, reflecting a significant shift in American governance.