President Hoover's Views on
the Depression
In February 1933, shortly before leaving office, President Hoover
wrote a letter to Senator Simeon Fess (R-OH). Senator Fess was the Republican
Whip in 1933, but was defeated for re-election in 1934. President Hoover
provided a kind of thumbnail history of what he identified as the five
phases of the Depression up to that point. The letter also makes clear
his continuing disagreements with President-elect Roosevelt and the New
Deal. It is interesting to note that Hoover included a separate cover
letter to Fess with instructions that his letter not be released unless
" . . .at some future time the Democratic leaders should endeavor
to mislead the public about the causes of the present situation."
All images courtesy National Archives
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