Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War
Herbert Hoover, out of office since his defeat in 1932 by Franklin Roosevelt, maintained a strong international reputation due to his achievements as an engineer and his success during World War I and beyond in organizing aid for the starving millions of Europe. And yet, in nearly all accounts of the ferocious debate over American aid to Europe before the United States entered World War II, Hoover’s role has been overlooked.



Hoover vs. Roosevelt tells the story of American efforts to stay out of war following the German invasion of Poland. Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., called it “the most savage political debate of my lifetime.” Both men fiercely disagreed on how to respond but the heart of their disagreement was over aid for the huge numbers of Polish refugees flooding into neighboring countries and those that were left behind. Hoover found Roosevelt’s policy of limited emergency aid unacceptable, countering by rapidly assembling teams comprised of talented people who had served in prior Hoover relief organizations. Here for the first time are the courageous stories of those that achieved that success in Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania. When the Soviets invaded Finland on November 30, Hoover assisted the Finns by conducting a Hollywood, star-studded campaign spearheading nation-wide support for this small country. But Hoover’s relief efforts were complicated by his burning ambition to obtain the Republican presidential nomination, a second opportunity to defeat Roosevelt. For Roosevelt, Hoover’s relief successes threatened to derail his limited aid policy which aimed to conserve resources to assist Britain and France and could also cost the president votes. Politics aside, Hoover wars in the first year of the war succeeded in forcing Roosevelt to provide far more aid then intended. Hoover’s victory, the only one achieved in his battles with Roosevelt, accomplished relief for hundreds of thousands in need.

Widely and deeply researched in an array of rarely used secondary and primary sources, both domestic and international. Hoover vs. Roosevelt reveals the story of the two contenders’ battles over feeding Europe and going to war.
1138965142
Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War
Herbert Hoover, out of office since his defeat in 1932 by Franklin Roosevelt, maintained a strong international reputation due to his achievements as an engineer and his success during World War I and beyond in organizing aid for the starving millions of Europe. And yet, in nearly all accounts of the ferocious debate over American aid to Europe before the United States entered World War II, Hoover’s role has been overlooked.



Hoover vs. Roosevelt tells the story of American efforts to stay out of war following the German invasion of Poland. Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., called it “the most savage political debate of my lifetime.” Both men fiercely disagreed on how to respond but the heart of their disagreement was over aid for the huge numbers of Polish refugees flooding into neighboring countries and those that were left behind. Hoover found Roosevelt’s policy of limited emergency aid unacceptable, countering by rapidly assembling teams comprised of talented people who had served in prior Hoover relief organizations. Here for the first time are the courageous stories of those that achieved that success in Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania. When the Soviets invaded Finland on November 30, Hoover assisted the Finns by conducting a Hollywood, star-studded campaign spearheading nation-wide support for this small country. But Hoover’s relief efforts were complicated by his burning ambition to obtain the Republican presidential nomination, a second opportunity to defeat Roosevelt. For Roosevelt, Hoover’s relief successes threatened to derail his limited aid policy which aimed to conserve resources to assist Britain and France and could also cost the president votes. Politics aside, Hoover wars in the first year of the war succeeded in forcing Roosevelt to provide far more aid then intended. Hoover’s victory, the only one achieved in his battles with Roosevelt, accomplished relief for hundreds of thousands in need.

Widely and deeply researched in an array of rarely used secondary and primary sources, both domestic and international. Hoover vs. Roosevelt reveals the story of the two contenders’ battles over feeding Europe and going to war.
34.95 In Stock
Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War

Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War

by Hal Elliott Wert
Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War

Hoover vs. Roosevelt: Two Presidents' Battle over Feeding Europe and Going to War

by Hal Elliott Wert

Hardcover

$34.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 2-4 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

Herbert Hoover, out of office since his defeat in 1932 by Franklin Roosevelt, maintained a strong international reputation due to his achievements as an engineer and his success during World War I and beyond in organizing aid for the starving millions of Europe. And yet, in nearly all accounts of the ferocious debate over American aid to Europe before the United States entered World War II, Hoover’s role has been overlooked.



Hoover vs. Roosevelt tells the story of American efforts to stay out of war following the German invasion of Poland. Historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., called it “the most savage political debate of my lifetime.” Both men fiercely disagreed on how to respond but the heart of their disagreement was over aid for the huge numbers of Polish refugees flooding into neighboring countries and those that were left behind. Hoover found Roosevelt’s policy of limited emergency aid unacceptable, countering by rapidly assembling teams comprised of talented people who had served in prior Hoover relief organizations. Here for the first time are the courageous stories of those that achieved that success in Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania. When the Soviets invaded Finland on November 30, Hoover assisted the Finns by conducting a Hollywood, star-studded campaign spearheading nation-wide support for this small country. But Hoover’s relief efforts were complicated by his burning ambition to obtain the Republican presidential nomination, a second opportunity to defeat Roosevelt. For Roosevelt, Hoover’s relief successes threatened to derail his limited aid policy which aimed to conserve resources to assist Britain and France and could also cost the president votes. Politics aside, Hoover wars in the first year of the war succeeded in forcing Roosevelt to provide far more aid then intended. Hoover’s victory, the only one achieved in his battles with Roosevelt, accomplished relief for hundreds of thousands in need.

Widely and deeply researched in an array of rarely used secondary and primary sources, both domestic and international. Hoover vs. Roosevelt reveals the story of the two contenders’ battles over feeding Europe and going to war.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780811739726
Publisher: Globe Pequot Publishing
Publication date: 01/01/2023
Pages: 536
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Hal Elliott Wert, an Iowa native, is professor emeritus of history at the Kansas City Art Institute. He is the author of Hoover the Fishing President: A Portrait of the Private Man and His Adventurous Life Outdoors, George McGovern and the Democratic Insurgents,and Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Table of Contents

Foreword Justus D. Doenecke ix

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 The End of All Wars 11

Chapter 2 The Contenders: Hoover and Roosevelt 25

Chapter 3 The Liars' League: The World Turned Upside Down! 49

Chapter 4 War 65

Chapter 5 Crushed 83

Chapter 6 The Rapprochement That Failed: The Battle over Aid Begins 145

Chapter 7 Rescue in Romania, Hungary, and Lithuania 189

Chapter 8 Embargo Repeal, Politics, and Negotiations in the Garden of Beasts 239

Chapter 9 In the Jaws of the Soviet Bugbear 299

Chapter 10 Finnomania: A Cause Celebre 331

Conclusion 385

Notes 389

Bibliography 453

Index 497

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews