Herbert Hoover was basically the loneliest man in Washington by the end of 1932. People were living in "Hoovervilles"—shanty towns made of cardboard—and using "Hoover blankets," which were just old newspapers. The country was desperate. So, who became president after Hoover?
That would be Franklin Delano Roosevelt, better known as FDR.
He didn't just win. He demolished Hoover in one of the biggest landslides in American history. It wasn't even close. Roosevelt pulled in 472 electoral votes compared to Hoover’s 59. But the story of how we got from a "rugged individualist" like Hoover to the "New Deal" of FDR is a lot messier than your high school history textbook probably let on.
The Election of 1932: More Than Just the Economy
Most people think the 1932 election was a simple referendum on the Great Depression. While that's mostly true, there was another huge factor: Prohibition.
Hoover was a "dry." He still supported the ban on alcohol, or at least he wasn't willing to lead the charge to end it. Roosevelt, ever the savvy politician, ran as a "wet." He promised to repeal the 18th Amendment. Honestly, for a lot of working-class voters in 1932, the promise of a legal beer was just as exciting as the promise of a government job.
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Roosevelt's campaign was built on a vibe. He used a catchy song called "Happy Days Are Here Again." He flew to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to accept the nomination in person—a huge deal at the time because candidates usually waited at home for a formal notification. It made him look energetic, mobile, and ready to fight, which was a stark contrast to Hoover’s somber, academic style.
Why Hoover Lost (and why it wasn't just "doing nothing")
There is a common myth that Herbert Hoover just sat on his hands while the economy burned. That’s not actually true. Hoover actually did quite a bit, but his timing was terrible and his philosophy was too rigid.
- He signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which basically strangled international trade.
- He pushed for the Revenue Act of 1932, which raised taxes during a depression (bad move).
- He created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) to lend money to banks and railroads.
The problem was that Hoover believed in "voluntarism." He thought the government should help businesses help themselves, rather than giving direct aid to the people. By the time FDR showed up, the public had zero patience left for "rugged individualism." They wanted a "New Deal."
The "Rocky" Transition
The four months between the election in November 1932 and the inauguration in March 1933 were a nightmare. This was before the 20th Amendment moved Inauguration Day to January.
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Hoover tried to get Roosevelt to commit to his own policies before taking office. He basically wanted FDR to promise not to tinker with the gold standard or engage in "radical" spending. Roosevelt ignored him. He didn't want his hands tied before he even sat in the Oval Office. The two men ended up hating each other. On the ride to the Capitol for the inauguration, they barely spoke a word to one another.
What FDR Did Immediately After Hoover
When Roosevelt finally took the oath on March 4, 1933, he didn't waste a second. He famously told the crowd, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Then he got to work on what we now call The First 100 Days.
- The Bank Holiday: Two days after taking office, he shut down every bank in the country. He only let the "solvent" ones reopen a few days later. It stopped the panic cold.
- The Alphabet Soup: He started cranking out agencies like they were going out of style. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) put young men to work in forests. The AAA (Agricultural Adjustment Act) tried to save farmers. The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) brought electricity to the South.
- Fireside Chats: He used the radio to talk directly to people in their living rooms. Hoover always sounded like a grumpy professor on the radio; Roosevelt sounded like a friend.
The Legacy of the Handover
The shift from Hoover to Roosevelt wasn't just a change in personnel. It was a fundamental shift in what Americans expected from their government. Before 1932, the idea of the federal government providing "Social Security" or unemployment checks was considered radical, maybe even "un-American."
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Roosevelt changed that forever. He didn't end the Great Depression overnight—in fact, some economists argue his policies might have even prolonged certain aspects of it—but he gave people hope. He made the government a "safety net" for the first time.
Misconceptions to Clear Up
- FDR wasn't a socialist: He actually thought he was saving capitalism by reforming it.
- Hoover wasn't a villain: He was a brilliant engineer and humanitarian who was simply out of his depth in a systemic financial collapse.
- The New Deal didn't end the Depression: World War II did most of that heavy lifting, though the New Deal certainly kept people fed in the meantime.
What You Can Do Now
If you're looking to dive deeper into how this transition changed America, here is how you can get started:
- Visit a "Hooverville" site: Many cities have historical markers where these shanty towns once stood. It gives you a visceral sense of the desperation of 1932.
- Read the First Inaugural Address: Don't just look at the "fear itself" quote. Read the whole thing. It’s a masterclass in political communication.
- Compare the 1932 and 1936 maps: You’ll see how Roosevelt’s "New Deal Coalition" of urban workers, farmers, and Southern Democrats solidified his power for over a decade.
- Check out the Living New Deal project: This online database lets you find New Deal-era post offices, bridges, and parks in your own neighborhood. You’d be surprised how much of FDR's legacy is still standing right outside your door.
The transition from Hoover to Roosevelt remains the most significant "vibe shift" in American political history. It wasn't just a new president; it was a new America.