Hoover Headlines

Jesse was an inventive and talented young entrepreneur, a self-taught blacksmith, inventor, pump manufacturer, community leader, pioneer West Branch businessman, and husband…as well as the father of the thirty-first President of the United States. This is his story.

A century ago 38 Americans from every walk of life volunteered to fly in the First World War. It was their own idea—to fight in the skies to aid our oldest ally, France, long before the United States entered the war. They were willing to pay the ultimate price. They helped move their reluctant nation to ultimately join the Allies and enter the fight. They were the Lafayette Escadrille. We’ll hear from the film’s director, Darroch Greer along with Paul Glenshaw.

Please watch this 20-minute version of ‘The Lafayette Escadrille’ in preparation for the Third Thursday program. WATCH THE PREVIEW

About the Speakers: Darroch Greer is a documentary filmmaker and historical researcher. He’s written and produced documentaries on the Civil War, Native America, and popular culture for Discovery, the History Channel, PBS and VH1.
Paul Glenshaw is a co-director and co-writer of The Lafayette Escadrille. He is a lecturer and instructor on art and history for the Smithsonian Associates, and a regular contributor to the Smithsonian’s Air & Space magazine. His career includes numerous projects for art and aviation museums across the country. 

This presentation explores the impact that reduced food supplies due the First World War and Franco-British blockade had on the health of civilians in Vienna, as well as the nutritional impact on the city once the blockade was lifted and international food aid arrived. Philanthropic donations played a huge role in alleviating children’s suffering and reducing nutritional inequality.
About the Speaker: Dr. Mary E. Cox received a PhD from the University of Oxford and is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Central European University in Austria. She will be making this presentation live from Vienna, Austria.

This is the June 17 Third Thursday at Hoover's virtual program recording.

Radio as we know it today emerged at the dawn of the 20th Century–first popular with amateur operators then becoming commercially viable in the 1920s.

Growth was so rapid that some control was necessary to make room on limited spectrum as radio enthusiasts were going “on the air” on any frequency, at any time and with any power.

Professor Stephen Coon will discuss this history and also look at how regulatory decisions made by Herbert Hoover and others still affect today’s industry including social media.

Dr. Coon will present: Clearing the Static: Herbert Hoover and Early Radio Regulation on the next Third Thursday at Hoover's virtual program, June 17 at 6 p.m.

Radio as we know it today emerged at the dawn of the 20th Century--first popular with amateur operators then becoming commercially viable in the 1920s. Growth was so rapid that some control was necessary to make room on limited spectrum as radio enthusiasts were going “on the air” on any frequency, at any time and with any power. Professor Stephen Coon will discuss this history and also look at how regulatory decisions made by Herbert Hoover and others still affect today’s industry including social media.

Every American President becomes a subject of mythology, both positive and negative. Dr. Nash’s lecture will explore how President Hoover’s reputation was affected by this process, in ways that confounded his contemporaries and obscured his place in history for many years.

About the Speaker: Dr. George H. Nash is an American historian and interpreter of American conservatism. He is a biographer of Herbert Hoover. He is best known for The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945, which first appeared in 1976 and has been twice revised and expanded.

This program discusses the different attempts by Iowans to create their own form of utopia. Featuring the Iowa Pioneer Phalanx, Salburia, the Amana Colonies, the Icarian Communities, the Clydesdale Colony, Communia and many more, this talk will provide some details about specific communal groups, and a general overview of different communal movements in American history and how they influenced community builders on the Iowa frontier, and beyond.

About the Speaker: 

Peter Hoehnle is an Amana native who received his graduate degrees from Iowa State University. He has published widely on American communal societies, including volumes on Amana and the Shakers, served as President of the Communal Studies Association and as a past editor of the journal Communal Societies.

As the nation’s first lady, Lou worked privately to find employment opportunities for individuals and hurting communities, while at the same time raising Americans’ awareness of the historical value of the White House and the importance of the arts. In her post-White House years, Lou continued to use her organizational and philanthropic skills to create new educational opportunities for students and cultural opportunities for her beloved Stanford community. Come learn about about the achievements of a first lady whose legacy has been largely forgotten, but whose impact can still be felt today.

Presented on  First Lady Lou Henry Hoover’s birthday, March 29 at noon CDT. Leslie Hoover-Lauble, President Hoover’s great-granddaughter, and Hoover Library Archives Technician Spencer Howard share stories and photos illustrating the amazing life of Lou Henry Hoover from an independent girl, to scientist and world traveler, to First Lady.

Herbert Hoover’s great-grandson, Allan, discusses future plans for the Presidential Library and Museum. It was originally dedicated in 1962. The Library & Museum has been expanded three times since then – the last in 1992 when Ronald Reagan came and rededicated the Library & Museum.

It is still the smallest (by far) of the 13 NARA Presidential Libraries and Museums. But as Herbert Hoover said, if his library is anything like the federal government, it will grow larger over time.

It did grow during its first 30 years of existence. In 1992 the library was transformed and visitation reached record levels. Many Iowans and Americans learned and were inspired by the Hoover story in a modern way. Since then, the methods for presenting a captivating, immersive visitor experience have changed dramatically.

Moderated by Brad Reiners, Communications Dir., Hoover Presidential Foundation