Lou Hoover
USABiography of Lou Henry Hoover
Lou Henry Hoover, the wife of President Herbert Hoover, was the First Lady of the United States. She was born on March 29, 1875, in Iowa. Her father, Charles Delano Henry, was a banker in Waterloo, Iowa, and her mother, Florence Weed, suffered from asthma, which led the family to move to California for a more favorable climate.
Lou developed a love for geology during a lecture she attended in 1894, which led her to enroll at Stanford University in California. It was there that she met Herbert Hoover, a student-geologist who was assisting Professor John Caspar Branner, the same professor who introduced Lou to the world of geology. They bonded over their shared interest and started dating. In 1895, Herbert graduated from Stanford University, and by that time, they had already given each other their word, although they were not formally engaged. Lou was captivated by Herbert's independence, blue eyes, and wide smile.
Throughout their lives, Lou considered herself specialized in Herbert Hoover, dedicating her time to supporting him in his endeavors. She accompanied him on his work trips to China and Europe, including during his presidency. When Herbert served as Secretary of Commerce in the Harding administration, someone remarked that all her energy was focused on supporting her husband in every aspect of his life, big and small. In 1928, Hoover was elected as the President of the United States, and the "New York Evening Post" presented Lou as his intellectual partner in all respects. Lou described herself as a happy woman because their paths in life had always run parallel to each other. Herbert saw this statement from his wife as the best compliment any man could receive.
Lou and Herbert were both born in Iowa, and they shared a love for outdoor activities and nature. They were deeply in love with each other, but they constantly postponed their wedding. Herbert wanted to earn enough money to support a family, and Lou wanted to pursue her education. In 1898, as Lou was taking her final exams, Herbert was working as a miner in the Australian desert. Later, he received an offer from the British firm "Bewick, Moreing and Company" to work in China. He sent a telegram to Lou, asking if she would marry him and go to China. Her immediate reply was a single word: "Yes."
After a five-week journey, the Hoovers arrived in Tianjin, China, in March 1899. Herbert organized geological expeditions to survey coal and mineral deposits, and Lou assisted him by analyzing maps, studying Chinese legal regulations, reading materials about China's mineral resources, and participating in some of the expeditions. She became fluent in Chinese, developed an interest in Chinese art, and began collecting Chinese porcelain. Despite facing many difficulties in China, including the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, during which Lou fell seriously ill with the flu and had to be transported to Tianjin for medical treatment, she continued supporting Herbert and helping those in need during the siege.
When foreign troops arrived in Tianjin to suppress the rebellion, Herbert insisted that Lou should leave for Japan, where it would be safer. However, she firmly refused to go unless he went with her. With delight, she once read in a Beijing newspaper about her own death and an extensive obituary. "I have never felt so proud," she later told her friends.
In Tianjin, Lou kept a cow, which provided fresh milk for their children. However, the cow disappeared, and a Chinese servant suggested they take the calf to the barrack of a German regiment. When they approached the barracks, the calf started mooing, and they heard the cow's response from inside. Lou explained to the German sentry, in broken German, that she wanted to reunite the calf with its mother. The sentry happily grabbed the leash and led the calf to the cow's stall while thanking Lou: "Vielen Dank!" Laughing, Lou later recounted the incident to her friends.
In November 1901, the Hoovers moved to London. Lou rented a house on Hyde Park Gate and decorated it to her taste. In London, she gave birth to their two sons: Herbert Clark Jr. on August 4, 1903, and Allan Henry on July 17, 1907. Lou often traveled with her children to India, Egypt, Australia, and Europe. In 1907, she accompanied Herbert and their children to Burma, where he established a gold and lead mining operation. The Hoovers lived in Tasmania, Japan, Ceylon, New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, and Russia. Few other First Ladies of the United States have traveled to as many countries as Lou, the wife of the 31st President, Herbert Hoover.
Upon their return to London, Lou rented a magnificent residence in the Campden Hill area and beautifully furnished it. Many friends and companions visited them there. Lou also rented a cottage on the campus of Stanford University, where they had studied and met.
In their spare time, Lou and Herbert translated a Latin treatise on mining, "De Re Metallica," published in 1556. Their translation was published in 1912. Lou also helped Herbert with his book "Principles of Mining," which was based on lectures he gave at Stanford and Columbia universities. She insisted on including a chapter on the upbringing and ethical principles of aspiring geologists. Additionally, Lou published several articles, including ones about the widow of the Chinese Emperor Fung Si, the English seismologist John Milne, and the economic issues in Belgium. She began writing a history of Chinese culture but never had enough time to finish it due to her daily responsibilities.
During the winter of 1913-1914, the Hoovers stayed in Palo Alto, California. In early spring 1914, they traveled to Europe.
The start of World War I found them in London. President Wilson appointed Herbert as the head of an organization that provided assistance to the victims of aggression, such as Belgians and Americans in Europe since the war's beginning.
When German air raids on London began in 1916, Herbert sent his family to California. Lou spent several weeks speaking at events and raising money for European countries. After the war, King Albert of Belgium personally thanked her for her charitable efforts when he awarded her the Knight's Cross and the Order of Leopold. In her acceptance speech, Lou said, "What is there to say? I have done nothing extraordinary; any woman who loves her husband would do the same. I am interested in what Mr. Hoover does, and I try to help him to the best of my ability. I have only two hobbies: my husband and my sons." When the United States entered World War I, Hoover was appointed as the head of the Food Administration. Lou rented a house on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., where she hosted receptions for her husband's staff, American and foreign politicians.
Lou actively participated in her husband's work, organizing food-saving campaigns and advocating for women to vote in elections. She believed that women should be involved in politics and well-informed about public affairs, rather than solely focusing on leisure activities. She encouraged women to participate in politics and unite their voices as voters. In 1926, Lou declared, "I believe that a professional career can be continued after marriage." She even told a reporter, "In politics, there is no difference between men and women."
According to Lou, pregnancy should not hinder a woman in her pursuits. Even while pregnant, a woman should participate in public life as much as possible. She invited pregnant women to receptions and insisted that they accept the invitations, which contradicted societal rules.
As the wife of a member of the United States government, Lou fulfilled certain protocol obligations. Washington etiquette required the wife of a newly appointed minister to visit all the prominent figures' wives within three to four weeks, introduce herself, and leave a calling card. Drawing from her European experience, Lou considered this custom outdated and a waste of time. She called on the wives of politicians to boycott it and eventually succeeded in having it abolished.
Herbert Hoover was an exceptionally reserved, introverted, and not very sociable person. Despite all her efforts, Lou could not change this aspect of his personality.
Lou had the ability to find solutions to the most unpleasant situations she occasionally found herself in because of her husband. Once, they were having dinner with guests when a group of senators and their wives arrived unannounced. Herbert leaned toward Lou and whispered, "I forgot to tell you that I invited them for dinner tonight." Lou asked the guests to wait for a moment in the adjacent room and instructed her husband to entertain the senators in the parlor. Quickly, she had the staff bring new cutlery, and within a few moments, she warmly invited all the guests to the table.
Another time, a congressman from Maine sent an incredibly large fish to the White House. Thinking it was a gift, Lou instructed the staff to take the fish to the kitchen. Shortly after, the congressman arrived and explained that he sent the enormous catch requesting a photograph with the fish and the president. When they discovered that the head of the fish had already been removed, Lou called a tailor, who sewed it back on. The photo was taken, and nobody noticed anything amiss.
In 1925, Lou became a grandmother to two grandchildren before becoming the First Lady.
In the 1928 presidential campaign, Lou initially did not want to actively participate. However, her husband insisted, saying, "I need you; who will accept the flowers for me?" Thus, Lou had to accompany him on all his campaign trips. She even delivered several speeches from the platform of the campaign train. In Palo Alto, she told a crowd, "I enjoy taking part in the campaign. My husband gives speeches, and I receive roses."
In the November 1928 elections, Hoover won in 40 out of 48 states.
Between the election victory and his inauguration, Herbert embarked on a "goodwill tour" of Latin America, accompanied by Lou, who demonstrated her fluency in Spanish. Despite the freezing cold, nearly 50,000 people gathered for the inauguration ceremony on March 4, 1929. Following the inauguration, Lou hosted a "family" reception, inviting 1,800 guests.
Before moving into the White House, Lou ordered renovations and furniture changes, which caused dissatisfaction among the staff. She filled the residence with palm trees, tropical plants, and exotic birds, reflecting her love for nature.
Lou actively engaged with various organizations during her tenure as First Lady. She served as the chair of the Girl Scouts of the USA from January 1922 to January 1925. Under her leadership, the number of girl scouts increased from 13,000 in 1917 to 840,000 in 1924. She supported the establishment of summer camps and introduced the tradition of selling cookies for charitable purposes.
In April 1923, Lou became the vice-chair of the Women's Amateur Athletic Union.
She displayed exceptional courage when she told the conservative organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution, that short skirts "have their place" for women.
Lou actively participated in the work of the National Women's Party, advocating for women's suffrage. In May 1923, at a conference of Republican Party supporters in Philadelphia, she declared, "Women must be involved in politics. They must delve more into public affairs and not waste time only on pleasures. Whether they want to see us in politics or not, we will unite, and the only power that will strengthen us is the power of voters' voices."
