Roll Over Herbert Hoover...
Every President wields an exponential amount of power. They are entrusted BY the people FOR the people. From Washington to Hoover to Trump the people have held it in their faith that the President of the United States of America, a man clothed in immense power, would do what was right by them. Some Presidents, of whom should be called knights in shining armor, are left in the dust and forgotten while others plaster their name and “good” deeds in a red haze that sparkles in the sky dazzling and confusing.
As a historian, I find it fascinatingly irritating when history is misrepresented. The rant may last five second or it could last five days. On the whole, most historical mis-truths are the result of a genuine mistake or of a Hollywood reproduction. Nevertheless, when the most powerful man in the United States bends history to fit his own needs, the only result is a mind numbing need to make a painstakingly detailed correction.
On October 1, 2019 Donald Trump uttered a so called “fact” that he was the ONLY President to have donated his presidential salary. Of course, this would make him an amazingly genuine man. He did also say that there was a possibility that George Washington had refused a salary for being president. On any given day any American would be proud to be compared to George Washington, the “father” of our country. Yet, on this day, Trump and Washington are indeed not alike.
The first President of the United States did say in his inaugural address that he would not take any payment for his work as President. As the leader of the Continental Army Washington had not taken a salary. Instead, he invested much of his own money into seeing that his troops were prepared for battle. When it came to being President, Washington’s fellow founding fathers did not agree with his idea not to be compensated for the work he did. Thusly, Washington was given a salary.
Article II, Section I of the United States Constitution states that, “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.” When Washington stated that he would receive no payment his fellow founders enlightened him as to why he needed one.
The President would have to take a salary as a reminder that he worked for the people and not for the good of the few that might bribe him if he fell on hard times. Everyone knew that Washington was an independently wealthy man (thank you Martha). Saying that, there was always a chance that his finances could slip and, if they did, he might be tempted to take bribes from specific citizens. Or, as an even more menacing thought to those like Jefferson and Madison, he may be bribed by foreign powers. This may be best explained by Alexander Hamilton himself in Federalist Paper No. 73:
It is impossible to imagine any provision which would have been more eligible than this. The
As a historian, I find it fascinatingly irritating when history is misrepresented. The rant may last five second or it could last five days. On the whole, most historical mis-truths are the result of a genuine mistake or of a Hollywood reproduction. Nevertheless, when the most powerful man in the United States bends history to fit his own needs, the only result is a mind numbing need to make a painstakingly detailed correction.
On October 1, 2019 Donald Trump uttered a so called “fact” that he was the ONLY President to have donated his presidential salary. Of course, this would make him an amazingly genuine man. He did also say that there was a possibility that George Washington had refused a salary for being president. On any given day any American would be proud to be compared to George Washington, the “father” of our country. Yet, on this day, Trump and Washington are indeed not alike.
The first President of the United States did say in his inaugural address that he would not take any payment for his work as President. As the leader of the Continental Army Washington had not taken a salary. Instead, he invested much of his own money into seeing that his troops were prepared for battle. When it came to being President, Washington’s fellow founding fathers did not agree with his idea not to be compensated for the work he did. Thusly, Washington was given a salary.
Article II, Section I of the United States Constitution states that, “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.” When Washington stated that he would receive no payment his fellow founders enlightened him as to why he needed one.
The President would have to take a salary as a reminder that he worked for the people and not for the good of the few that might bribe him if he fell on hard times. Everyone knew that Washington was an independently wealthy man (thank you Martha). Saying that, there was always a chance that his finances could slip and, if they did, he might be tempted to take bribes from specific citizens. Or, as an even more menacing thought to those like Jefferson and Madison, he may be bribed by foreign powers. This may be best explained by Alexander Hamilton himself in Federalist Paper No. 73:
It is impossible to imagine any provision which would have been more eligible than this. The
legislature, on the appointment of a President, is once for all to declare what shall be the
compensation for his services during the time for which he shall have been elected. This done,
they will have no power to alter it, either by increase or diminution, till a new period of service by
a new election commences. They can neither weaken his fortitude by operating on his necessities,
nor corrupt his integrity by appealing to his avarice. Neither the Union, nor any of its members,
will be at liberty to give, nor will he be at liberty to receive, any other emolument than that which
may have been determined by the first act. He can, of course, have no pecuniary inducement to
renounce or desert the independence intended for him by the Constitution.
Hamilton’s explanation is simple. A salary equates to no corruption. It may be important to note that this is a hope and not a solid rule.
Moving on to the real issue at hand… Donald J. Trump likes to believe that he is the only President to have donated his presidential salary. The fact of the matter is that two other Presidents have donated their salaries. The difference between them and Trump is that they would never openly admit it. Thusly, the people never knew it until the deed was done and, in the case of one President, the people simply never knew... until he was gone…
John Fitzgerald Kennedy has gone down in history as one of America’s favorite President’s. He sat as President for two years, carried us safely through the Cuban Missile Crisis (with the help of his brother Robert), and was gone too soon from this Earth. Yet, did you know that he donated every penny he made as President. That is not it though. Before serving as this country’s President Kennedy served in Congress for fourteen years, donating every penny he earned. When he was assassinated in 1963, Kennedy’s donations totaled over $500,000. Some of the Organizations that he is known to have donated to include the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the United Negro College Fund.
John F. Kennedy will forever be remembered by Americans. Yet, the biggest Presidential philanthropist is often forgotten. Herbert Hoover who??? If you are anything like me than you may only remember Juan Epstein crying that “Herbert Hoover melted” in the 1970’s sitcom Welcome Back Kotter. As it turns out, Hoover just may be the most generous of both our forgotten and remembered Presidents.
Herbert Hoover was President from 1929 to 1933. This era was most notably the beginning of the Great Depression. Hoover began donating money to charity at a young age, but he was extremely secretive about it. This is so astonishing because, for the entirety of his presidency, he was blamed for bringing on the worst economic crisis the United States had ever seen (there was no real way he could have prevented it). Hoover had so much hate thrown on him. Yet, America’s knight NEVER cracked. He donated his presidential salary for the benefit of the people and tried his best to help in any way possible.
Hoover never let the public see any of his charitable activities, even if it could have (and would have) benefited his political image. He was a generous man all of his life, before and after his Presidency. Historian Glen Jeansonne wrote that, “Hoover did not simply save Belgium, much of Central Europe, and the Soviet Union from famine during the era of the Great War; he performed small acts of kindness virtually every day.” Herbert Hoover’s brother estimated that, by the end of the 1930’s, President Hoover had given away more than half of his business profits to charity. He was a successful businessman that wanted to be wealthy so that he could give it to those in need.
Today, we do not often remember Herbert Hoover. Yet, I doubt he would mind. None of what he did was done to secure his own legacy. We still do not know just how much money Hoover donated, historians can only conclude that the figure is a hell of a lot… Just as an example, Hoover donated $50,000 to Stanford University to collect WWI documents. He was also devoted to the Boys Club. When he began donating his time and money to them there were one hundred and forty clubs, at his death, there were more than six hundred.
Hoover once received a letter from a little boy asking him how he could become President. Hoover's response was as follows…
“The first rule is just to be a boy getting all the constructive joy out of life… The second rule is
Hamilton’s explanation is simple. A salary equates to no corruption. It may be important to note that this is a hope and not a solid rule.
Moving on to the real issue at hand… Donald J. Trump likes to believe that he is the only President to have donated his presidential salary. The fact of the matter is that two other Presidents have donated their salaries. The difference between them and Trump is that they would never openly admit it. Thusly, the people never knew it until the deed was done and, in the case of one President, the people simply never knew... until he was gone…
John Fitzgerald Kennedy has gone down in history as one of America’s favorite President’s. He sat as President for two years, carried us safely through the Cuban Missile Crisis (with the help of his brother Robert), and was gone too soon from this Earth. Yet, did you know that he donated every penny he made as President. That is not it though. Before serving as this country’s President Kennedy served in Congress for fourteen years, donating every penny he earned. When he was assassinated in 1963, Kennedy’s donations totaled over $500,000. Some of the Organizations that he is known to have donated to include the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the United Negro College Fund.
John F. Kennedy will forever be remembered by Americans. Yet, the biggest Presidential philanthropist is often forgotten. Herbert Hoover who??? If you are anything like me than you may only remember Juan Epstein crying that “Herbert Hoover melted” in the 1970’s sitcom Welcome Back Kotter. As it turns out, Hoover just may be the most generous of both our forgotten and remembered Presidents.
Herbert Hoover was President from 1929 to 1933. This era was most notably the beginning of the Great Depression. Hoover began donating money to charity at a young age, but he was extremely secretive about it. This is so astonishing because, for the entirety of his presidency, he was blamed for bringing on the worst economic crisis the United States had ever seen (there was no real way he could have prevented it). Hoover had so much hate thrown on him. Yet, America’s knight NEVER cracked. He donated his presidential salary for the benefit of the people and tried his best to help in any way possible.
Hoover never let the public see any of his charitable activities, even if it could have (and would have) benefited his political image. He was a generous man all of his life, before and after his Presidency. Historian Glen Jeansonne wrote that, “Hoover did not simply save Belgium, much of Central Europe, and the Soviet Union from famine during the era of the Great War; he performed small acts of kindness virtually every day.” Herbert Hoover’s brother estimated that, by the end of the 1930’s, President Hoover had given away more than half of his business profits to charity. He was a successful businessman that wanted to be wealthy so that he could give it to those in need.
Today, we do not often remember Herbert Hoover. Yet, I doubt he would mind. None of what he did was done to secure his own legacy. We still do not know just how much money Hoover donated, historians can only conclude that the figure is a hell of a lot… Just as an example, Hoover donated $50,000 to Stanford University to collect WWI documents. He was also devoted to the Boys Club. When he began donating his time and money to them there were one hundred and forty clubs, at his death, there were more than six hundred.
Hoover once received a letter from a little boy asking him how he could become President. Hoover's response was as follows…
“The first rule is just to be a boy getting all the constructive joy out of life… The second rule is
that no one should win the Presidency without honesty and sportsmanship and consideration for
others in his character—together with religious faith. The third rule is that he should be a man of
education. If you follow these rules, you will be a man of standing in your community even if you
do not make the White House. And who can tell? Maybe that also.”
I have only one thing to say…. Herbert Hoover 2020
I have only one thing to say…. Herbert Hoover 2020
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