National Archives and Records Administration

Introduction Activity 1 Activity 2 Activity 3

Creative problem solvers like Herbert Hoover are always in demand in the world of business. Hoover was known as the "Doctor of Sick Mines," for his ability to revitalize failing mining enterprises and make them profitable.

• Practice your problem solving skills by listing the problems facing Belgium in October, 1914. Choose one problem, define it, and articulate your solution.

Herbert Hoover knew that he had to convince Americans that saving the Belgian people from starving was of utmost importance and he understood the power of the press in accomplishing this mission. Hoover knew the psychological and fund-raising value of a "strong punch of cable" dispatched from the "scene of action." (Hoover cable to Lindon W. Bates, November 11, 1914, CRB cable files; printed in PR-CRB, II, pp.255-56.)

• Write a persuasive newspaper article convincing people to contribute food and supplies to the Belgium relief effort.

Great Britain declared war against the Central Powers soon after Germany's invasion of Belgium on August 4, 1914. Britain immediately blockaded the German seaports, preventing German ships from sailing out. This also kept other nations from shipping food behind the German lines. By late October the country of Belgium was in need of immediate assistance. Winter was approaching and there were thousands of people without homes and food. According to Hoover, more than a million Belgians were on the breadline, with but one to three weeks of supplies left in the entire nation. Hoover turned at once to the United States to supply food and the resources needed to prevent Belgium's impending tragedy. In Hoover's own words: "This would be the greatest job Americans have undertaken in the cause of humanity."

"To stimulate the flow of charity from the world's leading neutral nation and grain exporter, Hoover launched a vigorous publicity campaign. On October 31 he released a dramatic personal appeal from King Albert of Belgium for American support of the CRB during the coming winter of privation. Hoover had just obtained the message via Hugh Gibson, who had visited the monarch at the front. While there Gibson obtained a similar document addressed to the women of America by Belgium's queen.

To Albert's appeal Hoover attached a starkly worded message of his own. Seven million people were still in Belgium, he announced, and every one of them was in need. Writing in blunt, declarative sentences, he outlined the problem. 'This is not a question of charity or relief to the chronic poor, it is a question of feeding the entire population. The Belgians are helping themselves, but they can do little. The British and French are under a strain that they also can do little. Americans must feed Belgium this winter. There never . . . was a famine emergency so great.'" (Nash, George H., The Life of Herbert Hoover: The Humanitarian, 1914-1917. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, 1988.)

Western Union Cablegram #866
	Sent by Herbert Hoover on October 26, 1914 To: Lou Henry Hoover Requesting immediate assistance from California RE: Shipload of foodstuffs
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Cartoon
	"And the Greatest of These is Charity" San Francisco Chronicle December 5, 1914 Created by Bronstrup
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Newspaper Clippings
	"800,000 People Fed By Charity" Daily Call October 26, 1914
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	Untitled Universe January 3, 1915
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	"In The North Sea" Current Opinion January 1915
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Click here for a printable version of the worksheet

List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.

Which of the objects on your list are symbols?

Interpret what the symbols mean.

Explain how the words in the cartoon clarify the symbols.

Identify the cartoon caption and/or title.

Record any important dates or numbers that appear in the cartoon.

Describe the action taking place in the cartoon.

Explain the message of the cartoon.

What special interest groups would agree/disagree with the cartoon's message? Why?