NARA Collection hh-josli — Collection hh-josli

Theodore Joslin was one of President Hoover's closest White House advisors in 1932. In his diary Joslin captured important daily developments, including the President's mood and reactions. On 4-6-32 Joslin observed that Hoover did have a sense of humor. After a very frustrating day the President had remarked that he had "a five ring circus and a lot of damn bad actors." Shortly after Hoover's defeat, Joslin noted that the President was annoyed by "letters from well intentioned people sympathizing with him over his defeat." Hoover remarked [11-19-32] that "never in the last fifteen years have I slept more soundly than I have since the election. I have almost a feeling of elation. My only concern is what will happen to the country as a result of the change in policies." A month later Hoover talked (12-19-32) about his plans after leaving office. He said that he planned to "lay off for six or eight months and then I am going to start in raising hell. I've caught a lot of it in the last four years; now I'm going to give a lot of it. I'm going to talk and write and do any damn thing I want to." A very candid view from inside the Hoover administration.