Item Info
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:
Elected President in 1928, Herbert C. Hoover soon faced an economic depression following the Wall Street stock market crash of 1929. One measure President Hoover took to prevent a worsening of the economy was to urge Congress to balance the Federal budget. Part of that push entailed reducing the number of appropriations to ensure no deficit of the Treasury would occur. This cartoon represents Hoover's efforts by depicting him as a police officer raising the "Stop Treasury Deficit" traffic sign to a speeding Congress with "Enormous Appropriations" sticking out of its car trunk.
The April 22, 1930 issue of The Reading Eagle newspaper reported Hoover's efforts:
"Washington. April 22 (AP).- Congressional leaders have received letters from President Hoover that are understood to warn against appropriations as a threat to the slender surplus in prospect for this and the next fiscal year. ... Twice before Mr. Hoover has called the attention of Congress to the condition of the national Treasury and warned that appropriations should be held down to a minimum, if a deficit is to be avoided."
Sources
Herbert Hoover: "The President's News Conference," May 10, 1932. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. Retrieved from < http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=23082 >.
"Hoover again warns against excessive appropriations". (1930, April 22). The Reading Eagle, p. 15. Retrieved from: < http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7usxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-eEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5774%2C4863224 >
National Park Service. (2004, January 22). Biographical sketches: Herbert C. Hoover. Retrieved from: < http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/presidents/bio31.htm >
Country: Country:United States
State/Province:Pennsylvania
Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1930
Creator Name: Hammon, James - Artist