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was the years of 1914-1917 that would send Lou and Bert Hoover on, "the
slippery road of public life." (Herbert Hoover, The Memoirs of
Herbert Hoover, Vol. 1, Years of Adventure, 1951. Pg. 148). Lou had
been planning to take Herbert Jr., now 10, and Allan, 7 years old back
to California so that they could attend school and she could begin work
on the Hoover dream house. The Hoovers had
decided to build a house to their specifications on San Juan Hill, adjacent
to the Stanford campus.
But war broke out in Europe. Thousands
of Americans poured into London, desperate to find a way back to the
U.S. Their paper money, letters of credit, and even their reservations
on steamships were not being honored because of the war. It was at this
time that Lou and Herbert's organizational and humanitarian qualities
began to shine.
While Herbert Hoover was helping with finances and transportation
for stranded Americans, Lou Hoover began to work for the relief of American
women and children stranded in London. She mobilized the Society
of American Women in London to provide help. This help was in the
form of clothing, lodging, food, and even tours around London in order
to take their minds off the problems and delays facing the women. She
offered plenty of information and guidance too. Early fall was hectic
for the Hoovers.
Lou Hoover took the boys home to California on October
3rd. She wanted to get them into school in Palo Alto. Luckily, their
ship did not have any problems with the German submarine  torpedo
attacks that were plaguing ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
By October 22nd, Herbert Hoover was appointed official
Chairman of the Commission for Belgian Relief. Lou became his partner
in this venture. She talked to American women about the plight of the
Belgians who had no homes, no food, nothing at all, since they had been
invaded by Germany. Lou organized a California
branch of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, and she raised financing
and backing for one of the first food ships to be sent to Belgium from
California.
Lou was Herbert's trusted partner at this crucial time.
She commuted back and forth between her husband in London  and
her boys in California during the war years (1915-16). She was also
president of the Society of American Women in London that undertook
various relief projects. She arranged for the sale of Belgian lace in
order to help that industry survive during the war years.
When America entered Word War I, Herbert
Hoover was asked by President Woodrow Wilson to become America's Food
Administrator. The Hoovers settled in Washington D.C. Lou worked to
enlist women in America into the food conservation program. Wheatless
and meatless days were arranged, and "Food Will Win the War,"
became the national slogan.
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