Key Dates

Herbert Clark Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa on August 10, 1874. He was the first President born in Iowa and the first President to be born west of the Mississippi. River.

Herbert was orphaned as a child. He was nine years old.

Herbert Hoover was a Quaker.

Herbert Hoover was 5' 11" tall.

After World War I he was an administrator for food and humanitarian aid in Europe.

In 1922, Hoover, then Commerce Secretary, participated in the first successful long-distance television demonstration in New York.

He and his wife, Lou Hoover, lived in China before he became president. While there he and his wife learned to speak Mandarin Chinese. They some times speak Chinese in the White House to prevent others from listening to their conversation.

Herbert Hoover never promised a "chicken in every pot." It was a Republican Party ad not endorsed by Hoover during the election.

Both the Democrat and Republican Parties wanted Hoover to run for president on their party ballot.

Since President Hoover was a Quaker he did not take an oath of office. He affirmed his presidency.

Herbert Hoover was the first president to have a telephone right on his desk.

Herbert Hoover required White House servants to be "invisible." Whenever he or the first lady appeared, the servants would jump into the nearest closet to avoid being seen.

President Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone at Edison's 82nd birthday. Ft. Myers, Florida, February 11, 1929.
Herbert Hoover Library.
(Click for larger image.)

President Hoover was one of two Presidents who did not accept a salary for being President. He donated his salary to charity. He was a millionaire by time he was forty.

He was the first President that was a millionaire.

He enjoyed eating sweet potatoes with toasted marsh mellows.

He loved to go fly fishing.

President Hoover liked tossing a medicine ball as part of his morning workout.

Hoover Hover's Vice President was Charles Curtis (1929-1933).

Hoover's Secretary of State won a Nobel Peace Prize.

He approved the "Star-Spangled Banner" as our national anthem. It became the national anthem in 1931.

When Hoover invited the black wife of a congressman to the White House for tea, he was officially denounced by the state legislature of Texas.

Charles Curtis, Hoover's vice president, was the only nonwhite person to be elected vice president of the U.S. He was a Kaw Indian.
When the Hoovers wanted to speak privately while in the presence of White House guests, they spoke Chinese.

His son had 2 pet alligators that would sometimes wander around the White House. He also had several dogs:

• an Irish Wolfhound named Patrick.
• Fox Terriers named Sonnie and Big Ben.
• Eskimo dog named Yukon
• Elkhound named Weejie
  

A common sign held up by hitchhikers during the fall of 1932 read: "If you don't give me a ride, I'll vote for Hoover."

Herbert Hoover was the last President to have his term of office end on March 3

Hover had honorary degrees from fifty universities.

Herbert Hoover died in New York, New York on October 20, 1964. He was 90 years old. He was one four presidents to reach age 90.

Quotes from Herbert Hoover:

"It is just as important that business keep out of government at that government keep out of business."
Speech, October 22, 1928

"Being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.

"Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt."

"No public man can be just a little crooked."

"Those who retire without some occupation can spend their time only in talking about their ills and pills."