Presided over a purely Darwinian economic model with catostophic results. Wasn't all his fault, but he certainly failed in leadership.

Belgium in the fall of 1914 faced starvation because of the British blockade and German aggression. At the time, Herbert Hoover was the world's foremost mining engineer, and when he was asked to help with the relief effort, he pondered for a short while before saying Let the fortune go to hell and he accepted on the condition that he be paid no salary and be given command of what was to become the Commission for the Relief of Belgium. Hoover himself made pledges to the organization more than his total worth! Overall, it is estimated the CRB saved 10 million people. As a member of the Supreme Economic Council and head of the American Relief Administration, he extended aid to Bolshevist Russia. When he was criticized for this, he said Twenty million people are starving. Whatever their politics, they shall be fed!. As president, Hoover was not ambivalent to the dire human situation (he extended the first Federal unemployment assistance and offered loans to those struggling to afford homes and subsidies to struggling farmers), he simply did not believe in many of the economic methods suggested to cure it and could not convey the same charisma that FDR did. Ultimately though, Herbert Hoover was one of the most honorable and decent men to ever occupy the Whitehouse.

Excellent posts by Jon, TBone and Abi. There nothing to add except that it's a shame history remembers him in a negative light.

He's immoral for not helping the homeless during the Great Depression; he's immoral for not accepting African-Americans when he was in the White House; he's immoral for not planning a vision for this country.

Historians have a tendency to underrate Herbert Hoover's Presidency, many giving him low marks for his handling of the Great Depression. This is truly unfortunate, for Hoover was an extremely accomplished man. Indeed, I believe that he should be remembered more for his humanitarian activities regarding food relief after both World Wars. He make his name managing humanitarian aid during the First World War, where he literally saved Belgium from starvation. In 1946, Harry Truman gave Hoover the opportunity to manage the reconstruction relief aid in Western Europe, which arguable prevented the region from falling to communism. But as Jon pointed out, Hoover didn't care about the people's politics. He believed that all should be helped regardless of. People like that represent the American ideal: humanitarian, resourceful, intelligent. He was definitely a true leader, not the best politician however, which was why Roosevelt beat him in 1932. He had good intentions and genuinely felt the pain of the people, but that didn't come across well.