The Fourth Estate

Abstract

Until the Great Depression dimmed the luster of his reputation, Herbert Hoover led a charmed life with the press. During the Harding and Coolidge administrations, he chatted daily with journalists, some of them friends since his tenure as food administrator. He even leaked juicy tidbits, though he never undermined his superiors. Journalists considered him the most informative news source in Washington—honest, open, a man with nothing to hide. He was the only cabinet secretary familiar with all departments. Harding and Coolidge used Hoover as a conduit. The commerce secretary received a steady stream of requests to write articles. Lou Henry wrote an article about her experiences as a young girl for American Girl, the magazine of the Girl Scouts, in 1924. Hoover’s closest journalistic friend was Mark Sullivan, who was invited to social gatherings. Hoover’s circle included Edward Eyre Hunt, who had been on Hoover’s staff during Belgian relief. He wrote positive accounts of Hoover for Outlook, Survey, and the Nation. Other journalist intimates included William Hard and Will Irwin, both of whom wrote early biographies. Still, he refused to divulge information about his private life. In 1925, the Chicago Tribune published a favorable story about Hoover and Lou Henry, including their courtship. The commerce secretary responded with an angry letter, protesting that he wanted stories to exclude personal information. He was sensitive not merely to criticism but to excessive praise. The Quaker preferred to let his accomplishments speak for themselves.¹