The pragmatist Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the business elitist Herbert Hoover both believed they possessed the best remedy for America's depression. The issue of these former president's political spectrum standing has been throughly argued. Yet, it is quite obvious who possessed more liberal ideas, and wanted to change the government, versus more conservative ideas, and wished to keep the government the same. Though both Hoover and Roosevelt often exhibited ideas which reflected the opposite of their original standpoints, Hoover was primarily conservative, while Roosevelt was primarily liberal.The conservative republican, Herbert Hoover, believed in the lazze faire ideals of capitalism, and that the federal government should stay out of the economy. Anything besides this lassie faire attitude would bring about to much change and would". . .part with. . the public interest. . ." as suggested by Hoover's candidate speech. However, with the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the depression getting worse everyday, Hoover needed to do something. Yet, even in this desperate time, he was not willing to take a liberal stand of change, rather retained his conservatism as suggested by his second annual message to Congress. In which, Hoover states that the government should not intervene, but suggest businesses to voluntarily cooperate with the effort to raise the economic status of the fallen America. However, Hoover did advocate some change and reform within his presidential reign as displayed in his statement to the press in 1931 where he advocates loans to help agriculture. Yet, these changes all functioned within the businesses' wishes, and the republican idea of limited government spending directly for the people, as seen on the U.S. Bureau of the Census which shows the limited government spending during Hoover's administration. Thus, Hoover's small contribution to change the government to provide direct aid during the depression proves his primary conservative attitude.Liberal democrat Franklin Roosevelt realized that his administration time was one of economic, social, and political desperation. Desperate times, according to Roosevelt need desperate measures to fix them, measures like his revolutionary New Deal. He realized that the Hoover administration of conservatism would do nothing for the people and said as much in his candidate speech in Pittsburgh. Though countered with the attacks of "Pinko" and "socialistic reform," Roosevelt believed that the lack of change would destroy the government, rather then his extreme ideals of reform as illustrated by his speech from 1936; "The most serious threat to our institutions comes. . those who refuse to face the need for change." Not only was Roosevelt's desire for change drastic, but he also wanted immediate change, something new to this era of the "Grand 'ole Party." In order to allow for the continuation of democracy within America, there was the need for immediate change, "We must act-NOW!" Another example of Roosevelt's liberal ideas of administration was his government spending. He spent government money profusely, providing jobs and circulating the economy. In comparison to Hoover's moderate spending, Roosevelt skyrocketed the government debt, as shown in the U.S. Bureau Census. Thus, Roosevelt's ideas of government reform and immediate change categorizes him as a primarily liberal leader.While historians may argue over the Depression-Time president's political stance, it is quite evident, according to their own words and actions, what they represented to the American people. On one hand, Herbert Hoover believed in businesses, they created the economy, and thus their aid would help the United States out of this depression. This idea of working within the current capitalist system and not drastically changing the government was conservative. On the other hand, Franklin Roosevelt took a more socialistic standpoint in this desperate time, believing that whatever measures would fix the depression were also appropriate. Thus, Roosevelt's ideals of change constitutes him as a liberal.
