A recent letter vilified President Herbert Hoover, identifying his political and social philosophy with the tea party. The intention was to represent both as unconcerned for the poor. The writer is wrong on both counts
After World War I, Hoover organized feeding 300 million people in Europe and Russia. During a 1927 Mississippi flood, he coordinated relief to millions.
On Oct. 18, 1931, in an address that began a nationwide drive to aid the private relief agencies, President Hoover stated: "This civilization ... which we call American life, is builded and can alone survive upon the translation into individual action of that fundamental philosophy announced by the Savior 19 centuries ago."
On Sept. 15, 1932, to leaders of the "national drive" committee for voluntary relief agencies, he stated: "We maintain the spiritual impulses in our people for generous giving and generous service - in the spirit that each is his brother's keeper." In 1934, he declared: "While I can make no claim for having introduced the term 'rugged individualism,' I should be proud to have invented it."