Herbert Hoover delivering his Convocation Address in 1945.

Herbert Hoover posing with an unidentified man on the day of Wilson's Convocation in 1945.

Visited Wilson in October 1945 to celebrate the College’s 75th Anniversary

Herbert Hoover, former President of the United States, was best known for his humanitarian efforts, as well as the disasters that struck the country during his presidency, such as the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression. 

At age 26, Hoover began his humanitarian crusade after marrying his college sweetheart, Lou Henry. The pair traveled to China, where they spent several years directing the building of barricades and working in hospitals during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Following this, Hoover spent time helping stranded American troops during WWI and assisting displaced Belgians procure food, after German troops took over part of the country. Because of his actions, President Woodrow appointed him head of the Food Administration.

In 1928, he was elected President, stating, “We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land.” However, within months of his election, the stock market crashed and the nation spiraled into an economic depression. 

Despite his attempts to stave off American poverty, such as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, he became synonymous with the encampments of homeless people known as Hoovervilles. After his presidency, he continued to be an active voice in government, and wrote several books. 

He was invited to speak at Wilson’s 75th Anniversary in 1945. He was the only living ex-president at the time. Hoover’s speech took place a mere month after the conclusion of WWII. The nation was in a fragile state, having sustained six years of global warfare, and Americans were questioning how to rebuild. Tentative relief was felt by many, but also a sense of guilt and regret of the violence that had taken so many lives over the past several years. 

Wilson students were excited to greet former President Hoover, and they met him in front of Main Hall with a welcome scroll signed by members of the WCGA. His speech directly addressed the state of the nation, as he spoke of the degradation of truth and justice, as well as the role of educational institutions in restoring the country after such hard times. 

He concluded his speech saying, “To sum up, may I say that the colleges have a great obligation courageously to restore our moral and spiritual losses from the war, to renew our ideals of freedom, to regain our sensitiveness to wrong, and to provide the nation with renewed supply of trained leadership. Unless we rebuild the new era on these foundations, it means the war has been lost. It means more. It means that civilization is lost. I am convinced that our educational institutions are equal to this, the greatest of tasks.”

Sources:

The Billboard, October 19, 1945, Volume XXVI

https://www.biography.com/us-president/herbert-hoover

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