Date | December 8, 1931 |
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Venue | House Chamber, United States Capitol |
Location | Washington, D.C. |
Type | State of the Union Address |
Participants | Herbert Hoover Charles Curtis John Nance Garner |
Previous | 1930 State of the Union Address |
Next | 1932 State of the Union Address |
The 1931 State of the Union Address was delivered by President Herbert Hoover on December 8, 1931, in the midst of the Great Depression. Hoover's third address to Congress focused on efforts to address the ongoing economic crisis through both government and private sector initiatives, with an emphasis on cooperation and limited government intervention.
Hoover highlighted the administration's response to the unemployment crisis, which included expanding public works programs and encouraging private industries to share available work among employees. He noted, "There has been the least possible Government entry into the economic field," as he remained committed to encouraging local and community efforts in addressing the Depression's effects. [1]
Internationally, Hoover discussed the European economic crisis, particularly the situation in Germany. The U.S. facilitated a one-year postponement of reparations payments to prevent further financial collapse, which threatened global stability. Hoover also touched on foreign policy, expressing concern about the escalating conflict between China and Japan and reiterating U.S. support for the Kellogg-Briand Pact and China's territorial integrity.
Domestically, Hoover underscored efforts to assist agriculture, including loans to drought-affected farmers and relief provided by the Red Cross. He praised the spirit of community responsibility, stating, "Our people have been protected from hunger and cold," and commended the public's response to the crisis, which helped avert widespread unrest and industrial conflict. [2]
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and was the director of the U.S. Food Administration, followed by post-war relief of Europe. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1921 to 1928 before being elected president in 1928. His presidency was dominated by the Great Depression, and his policies and methods to combat it were seen as lackluster. Amid his unpopularity, he decisively lost reelection to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.
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