Was Herbert Hoover a good president or not?

    Despite the fact that Herbert Hoover introduced multiple bills in an effort to improve public welfare his presidency is best remembered for his disastrous performance during the Great Depression.
    Herbert Hoover was brought up in a Quaker community in Iowa. However, he suffered setbacks early because by the time he was ten both his parents were dead. His uncle Henry John Minthorn took Hoover and his two siblings into his house in Oregon. Hoover performed rather well in school and enrolled in Stanford University in 1891. Within four years, he had amassed a fortune as a mining financer and manager. After striking it rich, Hoover decided that he wanted to make a contribution to the world.
    As soon as World War One began Hoover rushed to make an impact through public service. Initially, he conducted a minor operation in which he attempted to lend money to Americans stranded in London. Hoover was an excellent organizer causing President Wilson to appoint him as the head of the U.S. Food Administration. The public loved him and as a result, in 1921, President Warren G. Harding sent Hoover an invitation to join his cabinet as secretary of commerce. However, Hoover was very ambitious and went above and beyond. Not only did Hoover expand the commerce department's beyond simple business promotion but he also organized relief efforts for the communities affected by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. He was very popular amongst Americans and that popularity would benefit him in the next election.

    President Coolidge decided not to run for office again so Hoover decided run for the office as a Republican. It must be noted that while Hoover was a Republican he had many progressive ideas. Shortly after being elected Hoover immediately improved Native American education/healthcare, child health/protection, and water development. In addition to those reforms, he supported the farmers through cooperatives, supported penal reform, expanded the National Institute of Health, and increased funding for the National Park Service. On top of those reforms, he also attempted to improve relations with Latin America and collective disarmament. Last but not least, he sponsored the Boulder Canyon Project which is now known as the Hoover Dam which happens to be one of the largest man-made dams in the country. Sadly, one of the worst economic disasters hit less than a year into his presidency.
    The Great Depression crippled the economy and led to mass unemployment amongst other consequences. Despite his vast accomplishments Hoover struggled to deal with this crisis. He did try to help out by providing loans for companies but didn't directly help the American people. "Hoovervilles" which were rundown shacks sprung up all across the country as the American people searched for solutions. The Depression was unlike any other crisis the nation had faced. It lasted nearly ten years and Hoover didn't have the skillset to deal with the crisis or calm the public. This is why charismatic Franklin D. Roosevelt won the election with ease in 1932.
    In the end, Hoover had a strong start to his presidency but couldn't deal with the Depression. It is up to you to decide whether or not he was a good president based on the information provided.


https://www.usnews.com/news/special-reports/the-worst-presidents/articles/2014/12/17/worst-presidents-herbert-hoover-1929-1933

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/herbert-hoover/

https://millercenter.org/president/hoover/life-before-the-presidency