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121-651: VBA has a history that can be traced back to the American Revolution when the Continental Congress passed the first national pension laws for wounded soldiers. Initially, these pensions were administered by individual states until the federal government assumed responsibility in 1789. In the early 1800s, the clerical work related to veterans' claims was handled by a small office within the War Department. By 1833, this office evolved into

242-626: A "third alternative" between "unrestrained capitalism" and socialism , which was becoming increasingly popular in Europe. Hoover sought to foster a balance among labor, capital, and the government, and for this, he has been variously labeled a corporatist or an associationalist . A high priority was economic diplomacy, including promoting the growth of exports, as well as protection against monopolistic practices of foreign governments, especially regarding rubber and coffee. Hoover demanded, and received, authority to coordinate economic affairs throughout

363-549: A $ 400,000 policy costs $ 24 per month. Notably, the SGLI does not have a war clause exclusion which otherwise precludes benefits if death results from combat. Effective March 1, 2023, the maximum SGLI coverage will increase to $ 500,000. Veterans' Group Life Insurance ( VGLI ) is a similar product available to veterans . SGLI policyholders may convert their policy to VGLI upon discharge unless an exception for total disability applies. Premiums for VGLI are higher and are based on

484-497: A London-based independent mining consultant and financier. Though he had risen to prominence as a geologist and mine operator, Hoover focused much of his attention on raising money, restructuring corporate organizations, and financing new ventures. He specialized in rejuvenating troubled mining operations, taking a share of the profits in exchange for his technical and financial expertise. Hoover thought of himself and his associates as "engineering doctors to sick concerns", and he earned

605-433: A classmate named Lou Henry , though his financial situation precluded marriage at that time. The daughter of a banker from Monterey, California , Lou Henry decided to study geology at Stanford after attending a lecture delivered by John C. Branner . Immediately after earning a promotion in 1898, Hoover cabled Lou Henry, asking her to marry him. After she cabled back her acceptance of the proposal, Hoover briefly returned to

726-597: A contender in the 1920 presidential election. Hoover's wartime push for higher taxes, criticism of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer 's actions during the First Red Scare , and his advocacy for measures such as the minimum wage , forty-eight-hour workweek, and elimination of child labor made him appealing to progressives of both parties. Despite his service in the Democratic administration of Woodrow Wilson, Hoover had never been closely affiliated with either

847-539: A critical food situation; Hoover estimated that as many as 400 million people faced the possibility of starvation. The United States Food Administration became the American Relief Administration (ARA), and Hoover was charged with providing food to Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to providing relief, the ARA rebuilt infrastructure in an effort to rejuvenate the economy of Europe. Throughout

968-492: A full payout in the form of a check, the family was sent a checkbook, rather than the amount due. It is not clear if the practice violated the law or the contract. In August 2010, the company was sued by some bereaved families. The company's response included an open letter to the military community in which it addressed what it characterized as "misinformation" about the nature of the accounts. Military Times noted that prior lawsuits against insurance companies pertaining to

1089-453: A future presidential bid throughout the 1920s, but he carefully avoided alienating Coolidge, who possibly could have run for another term in the 1928 presidential election . Along with the rest of the nation, he was surprised when Coolidge announced in August 1927 that he would not seek another term. With the impending retirement of Coolidge, Hoover immediately emerged as the front-runner for

1210-586: A huge crowd that he would continue the policies of the Harding and Coolidge administrations. The Democrats nominated New York governor Al Smith , who became the first Catholic major party nominee for president. Hoover submitted his resignation as Commerce Secretary on July 7, but Coolidge kept him on until August 21 to wind up pending business. Hoover centered his campaign around the Republican record of peace and prosperity, as well as his own reputation as

1331-430: A job, including the use of special employer incentives, and, if needed, post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school. Additionally, VR&E supports independent living for veterans unable to work due to their disabilities through its readiness (rehabilitation) mission. The Office of Field Operations (OFO) provides operational oversight to the district offices and 56 regional offices within

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1452-545: A large property on the remote north coast of Santa Cruz County. The Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve is now part of Big Basin State Park . World War I broke out in August 1914, pitting Germany and its allies against France and its allies. The German Schlieffen plan was to achieve a quick victory by marching through neutral Belgium to envelop the French Army east of Paris. The maneuver failed to reach Paris but

1573-640: A mine scout for a year, Hoover was hired by Bewick, Moreing & Co. ("Bewick"), a London-based company that operated gold mines in Western Australia . He first went to Coolgardie , then the center of the Eastern Goldfields , which was actually in Western Australia , receiving a $ 5,000 salary (equivalent to $ 183,120 in 2023). Conditions were harsh in the goldfields; Hoover described the Coolgardie and Murchison rangelands on

1694-493: A model Uniform Vehicle Code for adoption by the states and a Model Municipal Traffic Ordinance for adoption by cities. Both were widely influential, promoting greater uniformity between jurisdictions and tending to promote the automobile's priority in city streets. Phillips Payson O'Brien argues that Hoover had a Britain problem. He had spent so many years living in Britain and Australia, as an employee of British companies, there

1815-726: A monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies. Veterans can also transfer their benefits to dependents under certain conditions. Another significant program is the Montgomery GI Bill, which provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for various educational pursuits. VBA also offers educational benefits for veteran dependents through programs such as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program, which provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to

1936-469: A range of undiagnosed illnesses and medically unexplained chronic multisymptomatic illnesses associated with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. These conditions include chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. In recent years, Congress has focused on expanding services and benefits available to veterans, considering the projected growth of

2057-671: A reputation as a "doctor of sick mines". He made investments on every continent and had offices in San Francisco; London; New York City; Paris; Petrograd ; and Mandalay , British Burma . By 1914, Hoover was a very wealthy man, with an estimated personal fortune of $ 4 million (equivalent to $ 121.67 million in 2023). Hoover co-founded the Zinc Corporation to extract zinc near the Australian city of Broken Hill , New South Wales . The Zinc Corporation developed

2178-555: A separate mine in the Altai Mountains that, according to Hoover, "developed probably the greatest and richest single body of ore known in the world". In his spare time, Hoover wrote. His lectures at Columbia and Stanford universities were published in 1909 as Principles of Mining , which became a standard textbook. The book reflects his move towards progressive ideals, as Hoover came to endorse eight-hour workdays and organized labor . Hoover became deeply interested in

2299-583: A service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Other educational programs include the Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), the National Call to Service Program, and

2420-448: A service-related injury or disease. The Education Service administers several educational assistance programs to help veterans and their families pursue their educational goals. The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or those discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. This program covers tuition and fees,

2541-653: A successful engineer and public official. Averse to giving political speeches, Hoover largely stayed out of the fray and left the campaigning to Curtis and other Republicans. Smith was more charismatic and gregarious than Hoover, but his campaign was damaged by anti-Catholicism and his overt opposition to Prohibition. Hoover had never been a strong proponent of Prohibition, but he accepted the Republican Party's plank in favor of it and issued an ambivalent statement calling Prohibition "a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose". In

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2662-891: A unique, gigantic achievement, worthy of the greatest glory, which will long remain in the memory of millions of Russians whom you have saved from death". In 1919, Hoover established the Hoover War Collection at Stanford University. He donated all the files of the Commission for Relief in Belgium, the U.S. Food Administration, and the American Relief Administration, and pledged $ 50,000 as an endowment (equivalent to $ 878,695 in 2023). Scholars were sent to Europe to collect pamphlets, society publications, government documents, newspapers, posters, proclamations, and other ephemeral materials related to

2783-528: A wealthy mining engineer. In 1914, the outbreak of World War I , he organized and headed the Commission for Relief in Belgium, an international relief organization that provided food to occupied Belgium . When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Hoover to lead the Food Administration. He became famous as his country's "food czar". After the war, Hoover led the American Relief Administration , which provided food to

2904-427: Is a new benefit that provides guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Additionally, Traumatic Injury Protection under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) provides short-term financial assistance to severely injured service members to assist them in their recovery from traumatic injuries. The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Service, formerly known as

3025-517: The 1932 presidential election . Hoover's retirement was over 31 years long, one of the longest presidential retirements. He authored numerous works and became increasingly conservative in retirement. He strongly criticized Roosevelt's foreign policy and the New Deal . In the 1940s and 1950s, public opinion of Hoover improved, largely due to his service in various assignments for Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower , including chairing

3146-595: The Depression of 1920–21 , he convinced Harding to assemble a presidential commission on unemployment, which encouraged local governments to engage in countercyclical infrastructure spending. He endorsed much of Mellon's tax reduction program but favored a more progressive tax system and opposed the treasury secretary's efforts to eliminate the estate tax . Between 1923 and 1929, the number of families with radios grew from 300,000 to 10 million, and Hoover's tenure as Secretary of Commerce heavily influenced radio use in

3267-720: The North Sea forty times to meet with German authorities and persuade them to allow food shipments. He also convinced British Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George to allow individuals to send money to the people of Belgium, thereby lessening workload of the CRB. At the request of the French government, the CRB began delivering supplies to the people of German-occupied Northern France in 1915. American diplomat Walter Page described Hoover as "probably

3388-612: The Paris Peace Conference , Hoover served as a close adviser to President Wilson, and he largely shared Wilson's goals of establishing the League of Nations , settling borders on the basis of self-determination , and refraining from inflicting a harsh punishment on the defeated Central Powers. The following year, the famed British economist John Maynard Keynes wrote in The Economic Consequences of

3509-632: The United States Geological Survey ; these experiences convinced Hoover to pursue a career as a mining geologist. When Hoover graduated from Stanford in 1895, the country was in the midst of the Panic of 1893 and he initially struggled to find a job. He worked in various low-level mining jobs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains until persuading prominent mining engineer Louis Janin to hire him. After working as

3630-611: The froth flotation process to extract zinc from lead-silver ore and operated the world's first selective ore differential flotation plant. Hoover worked with the Burma Corporation, a British firm that produced silver, lead, and zinc in large quantities at the Namtu Bawdwin Mine . He also helped increase copper production in Kyshtym , Russia , through the use of pyritic smelting. He also agreed to manage

3751-506: The history of science , and he was especially drawn to the De re metallica , an influential 16th century work on mining and metallurgy by Georgius Agricola . In 1912, Hoover and his wife published the first English translation of De re metallica . Hoover also joined the board of trustees at Stanford, and led a successful campaign to appoint John Branner as the university's president. During his senior year at Stanford, Hoover became smitten with

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3872-404: The labour movement of the Australian miners. During his time with the mining company, Hoover became opposed to measures such as a minimum wage and workers' compensation , feeling that they were unfair to owners. Hoover's work impressed his employers, and in 1898 he was promoted to junior partner. An open feud developed between Hoover and his boss, Ernest Williams, but Bewick's leaders defused

3993-410: The 1928 Electoral College and impacted the presidential election. Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Servicemembers%27 Group Life Insurance Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance ( SGLI ) is a life insurance program available to all active duty and reserve members of the uniformed services of

4114-413: The 1928 Republican nomination, and he quickly put together a strong campaign team led by Hubert Work , Will H. Hays , and Reed Smoot . Coolidge was unwilling to anoint Hoover as his successor; on one occasion he remarked that, "for six years that man has given me unsolicited advice—all of it bad". Despite his lukewarm feelings towards Hoover, Coolidge had no desire to split the party by publicly opposing

4235-732: The Allied Powers, preventing their collapse and earning Hoover great acclaim. As head of the Food Administration, Hoover gained a following in the United States, especially among progressives who saw in Hoover an expert administrator and symbol of efficiency. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society during his tenure. World War I came to an end in November 1918, but Europe continued to face

4356-610: The Bolsheviks and feared the possibility of a protracted U.S. involvement. The Russian famine of 1921–22 claimed six million people, but the intervention of the ARA likely saved millions of lives. When asked if he was not helping Bolshevism by providing relief, Hoover stated, "twenty million people are starving. Whatever their politics, they shall be fed!" Reflecting the gratitude of many Europeans, in July 1922, Soviet author Maxim Gorky told Hoover that "your help will enter history as

4477-706: The British refused to lift their blockade of German-occupied Belgium unless the U.S. government supervised Belgian food imports as a neutral party in the war. With the cooperation of the Wilson administration and the CNSA , a Belgian relief organization, Hoover established the Commission for Relief in Belgium (CRB). The CRB obtained and imported millions of tons of foodstuffs for the CNSA to distribute, and helped ensure that

4598-593: The Bureau of Pensions, tasked with administering pension payments to veterans and their families. Following the Civil War, the bureau's responsibilities expanded significantly as the federal government recognized diseases contracted during military service as grounds for disability claims. During World War I, new types of benefits, such as insurance and vocational training for disabled veterans, were introduced. These programs were initially managed by separate agencies until

4719-620: The Chinese government, the director of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company agreed to establish a new Sino-British venture with Bewick. After they established effective control over the new Chinese mining company, Hoover became the operating partner in late 1901. In this role, Hoover continually traveled the world on behalf of Bewick, visiting mines operated by the company on different continents. Beginning in December 1902,

4840-513: The Death Pension, offers monthly payments to the surviving spouses and unmarried dependent children of deceased wartime veterans. The Fiduciary Service provides oversight for VA's most vulnerable beneficiaries who are unable to manage their own VA benefits. Additionally, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) provides monthly benefits to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or veterans whose death resulted from

4961-546: The Democrats or the Republicans . He initially sought to avoid committing to any party in the 1920 election, hoping that either of the two major parties would draft him for president at their national conventions. In March 1920, he changed strategy and declared himself a Republican; he was motivated in large part by the belief that the Democrats had little chance of winning. Despite his national renown, Hoover's service in

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5082-506: The German army did not appropriate the food. Private donations and government grants supplied the majority of its $ 11-million-a-month budget, and the CRB became a veritable independent republic of relief, with its own flag, navy, factories, mills, and railroads. Hoover worked 14-hour days from London, administering the distribution of over two million tons of food to nine million war victims. In an early form of shuttle diplomacy , he crossed

5203-551: The Germans did control nearly all of Belgium for the entire war. Hoover and other London-based American businessmen established a committee to organize the return of the roughly 100,000 Americans stranded in Europe. Hoover was appointed as the committee's chairman and, with the assent of Congress and the Wilson administration , took charge of the distribution of relief to Americans in Europe. Hoover later stated, "I did not realize it at

5324-511: The Harding administration. Hoover envisioned the Commerce Department as the hub of the nation's growth and stability. His experience mobilizing the war-time economy convinced him that the federal government could promote efficiency by eliminating waste, increasing production, encouraging the adoption of data-based practices, investing in infrastructure, and conserving natural resources. Contemporaries described Hoover's approach as

5445-584: The Home Modernizing Bureau. He worked with bankers and the savings and loan industry to promote the new long-term home mortgage, which dramatically stimulated home construction. Other accomplishments included winning the agreement of U.S. Steel to adopt an eight-hour workday, and the fostering of the Colorado River Compact , a water rights compact among Southwestern states . The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 broke

5566-540: The Hoovers began living in the United States, maintaining homes in Stanford, California , and Washington, D.C. Hoover's great-grandaughter (through Allan) is conservative political commentator, strategist, media personality and author Margaret Hoover . Hoover's elder brother Theodore also studied mining engineering at Stanford, and returned there to become dean of the engineering school. In retirement, Theodore bought

5687-1056: The Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program, which provides direct loans to eligible Native American veterans to finance the purchase, construction, or improvement of homes on Federal Trust Land. Additionally, the Veterans Affairs Supplemental Loan (VASP) program and other foreclosure avoidance programs offer support to veterans facing financial difficulties. The Insurance Service administers several insurance programs, including Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) , which provides low-cost term life insurance to eligible service members. Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) allows veterans to convert their SGLI coverage to renewable term insurance after separation from service. The Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) program offers life insurance to veterans with service-connected disabilities. The Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) program

5808-660: The Peace that if Hoover's realism, "knowledge, magnanimity and disinterestedness" had found wider play in the councils of Paris, the world would have had "the Good Peace". After U.S. government funding for the ARA expired in mid-1919, Hoover transformed the ARA into a private organization, raising millions of dollars from private donors. He also established the European Children's Fund, which provided relief to fifteen million children across fourteen countries. Despite

5929-592: The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP). VA Home Loan Guaranty Service program helps veterans, service members, and eligible surviving spouses obtain, retain, and adapt homes. VA does not directly provide loans but instead facilitates the loan process by offering a partial guaranty of loans made by private lenders. This guaranty replaces the need for a substantial down payment and private mortgage insurance required in conventional mortgage transactions. The service also includes

6050-471: The Senate and from radio station owners. Hoover was also influential in the early development of air travel, and he sought to create a thriving private industry boosted by indirect government subsidies. He encouraged the development of emergency landing fields, required all runways to be equipped with lights and radio beams, and encouraged farmers to make use of planes for crop dusting . He also established

6171-477: The Senate. Hoover would serve as Secretary of Commerce from 1921 to 1928, serving under Harding and, after Harding's death in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge . While some of the most prominent members of the Harding administration, including Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty and Secretary of Interior Albert B. Fall , were implicated in major scandals , Hoover emerged largely unscathed from investigations into

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6292-478: The South, Hoover and the national party pursued a " lily-white " strategy, removing black Republicans from leadership positions in an attempt to curry favor with white Southerners. Hoover maintained polling leads throughout the 1928 campaign, and he decisively defeated Smith on election day, taking 58 percent of the popular vote and 444 of the 531 electoral votes. Historians agree that Hoover's national reputation and

6413-747: The United States . Supervised by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs , the program is administered by the Prudential Insurance Company of America. It is available to active-duty members of the Army , Marine Corps , Navy , Air Force , Space Force , Coast Guard , United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps . Ready reservists , cadets , and midshipmen at

6534-594: The United States for their wedding. They would remain married until Lou Henry Hoover's death in 1944. Hoover was the first president to be a widower since Woodrow Wilson . Though his Quaker upbringing strongly influenced his career, Hoover rarely attended Quaker meetings during his adult life. Hoover and his wife had two children: Herbert Hoover Jr. (born in 1903) and Allan Henry Hoover (born in 1907). The Hoover family began living in London in 1902, though they frequently traveled as part of Hoover's career. After 1916,

6655-1015: The United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. OFO also facilitates outreach and public contact services across the administration and ensures quality and training for VBA employees who engage with service members, veterans, and their families through client services such as the National Contact Center. Each state has at least one Regional Office, along with Washington, DC, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. Larger states & states with higher veteran populations have more than one office --three in California (San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oakland), and two each in New York (New York City and Buffalo), Texas (Houston and Waco), and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Even though there are regional offices in each state, VR&E claims are

6776-500: The United States. In the early and mid-1920s, Hoover's radio conferences played a key role in the organization, development, and regulation of radio broadcasting . Hoover also helped pass the Radio Act of 1927 , which allowed the government to intervene and abolish radio stations that were deemed "non-useful" to the public. Hoover's attempts at regulating radio were not supported by all congressmen, and he received much opposition from

6897-590: The VA in 1989, when the Department of Veterans Affairs was created as a Cabinet-level department. This reorganization aimed to enhance the focus on veterans' benefits and improve the efficiency of service delivery, Following the Persian Gulf War in 1991, VA recognized the unique health challenges faced by Gulf War veterans. This led to regulatory expansions that established presumptive service connections for

7018-554: The VA receives advance appropriations to ensure that in the event of an impasse in appropriations, VA benefit delivery is not affected. Therefore, the table numbers may not completely reflect the requested or appropriated dollars. For fiscal year 2025, VBAs requested amounts emphasize the continued modernization efforts, including the expansion of the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), increased funding to support timely processing of claims, and

7139-527: The Veteran Rehabilitation & Education Service, assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers. The program offers services such as vocational counseling, training, education, and job placement assistance. VR&E services include comprehensive evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for employment, vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning, employment services such as job-training and job-seeking skills, assistance finding and keeping

7260-423: The Veteran populations after the War in Afghanistan and Iraq War conflicts. This includes the implementation of various modernization and technical advancements, including enhancements in claims processing technology, and increased outreach efforts to ensure that veterans are aware of and can access the benefits they have earned. Some key legislative acts that expanded VBAs portfolio include: VBA operates under

7381-410: The Veterans Bureau was established in 1921 to centralize their administration. In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order that merged the Veterans Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers to form the Veterans Administration (VA). This consolidation aimed to streamline and improve the delivery of benefits and services to veterans. The VA became

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7502-408: The Veterans' Educational Assistance Act of 1984, also known as the Montgomery GI Bill , which provided expanded education benefits to veterans who served on active duty by offering financial assistance for education and training programs, significantly enhancing the opportunities available to veterans for personal and professional development. VBA was officially established as a distinct entity within

7623-473: The Wilson administration had alienated farmers and the conservative Old Guard of the GOP , and his presidential candidacy fizzled out after his defeat in the California primary by favorite son Hiram Johnson . At the 1920 Republican National Convention , Warren G. Harding emerged as a compromise candidate after the convention became deadlocked between supporters of Johnson, Leonard Wood , and Frank Orren Lowden . Hoover backed Harding's successful campaign in

7744-438: The administration of VBA's benefits portfolio through their respective service lines, and the Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Field Operations (DUS-FO) who provides, management and guidance to the 56 regional offices and ensures the effective delivery of benefits and services at the local level. Through the Office of Policy and Oversight (OPO), each one of the below service lines is managed by an Executive Director who implements

7865-475: The administration's priorities and plans for enhancing veterans' services, the appropriated amounts, approved by Congress, can differ. These differences can affect the implementation and expansion of various programs. For instance, in some years, the appropriated amounts may be lower than requested, necessitating adjustments in planned initiatives. Conversely, in other years, additional appropriations may be made to address unforeseen needs or emergencies. Additionally,

7986-404: The age of 34 of a sudden heart attack. Hoover's mother died in 1884 of typhoid , leaving Hoover, his older brother, Theodore, and his younger sister, May, as orphans. Hoover lived the next 18 months with his uncle Allen Hoover at a nearby farm. In November 1885, Hoover was sent to Newberg, Oregon , to live with his uncle John Minthorn, a Quaker physician and businessman whose own son had died

8107-402: The age of the insured. In 2010, various media outlets noted allegations that the Prudential Life Insurance Company was manipulating the payout of life insurance benefits due to the families of American service members to gain extra profits. The company provided life insurance to people in the armed forces under a government contract. Rather than paying the full amount due to the families at once,

8228-526: The age of thirteen to become an office assistant for his uncle's real estate office (Oregon Land Company) in Salem, Oregon . Though he did not attend high school, Hoover learned bookkeeping, typing, and mathematics at a night school. Hoover was a member of the inaugural "Pioneer Class" of Stanford University , entering in 1891 despite failing all the entrance exams except mathematics. During his freshman year, he switched his major from mechanical engineering to geology after working for John Casper Branner ,

8349-505: The agency leadership— Alonzo E. Taylor (technical abilities), Robert Taft (political associations), Gifford Pinchot (agricultural influence), and Julius Barnes (business acumen). World War I had created a global food crisis that dramatically increased food prices and caused food riots and starvation in the countries at war. Hoover's chief goal as food czar was to provide supplies to the Allied Powers, but he also sought to stabilize domestic prices and to prevent domestic shortages. Under

8470-423: The amount of crude oil spilled during extraction and shipping. He promoted international trade by opening overseas offices to advise businessmen. Hoover was especially eager to promote Hollywood films overseas. His "Own Your Own Home" campaign was a collaboration to promote ownership of single-family dwellings, with groups such as the Better Houses in America movement, the Architects' Small House Service Bureau, and

8591-995: The backlog continues. Integrating electronic health records (EHR) systems aims to streamline the process, though technical and logistical challenges persist. Early data suggests new review processes are expediting appeals, but the full impact is still being evaluated. Service quality across regional offices has been inconsistent, with veterans reporting varying experiences in accuracy, timeliness, and helpfulness. Efforts to standardize training and protocols are ongoing, but discrepancies still exist. Enhanced customer service training for VBA employees focuses on improving communication, understanding veterans' needs, and providing accurate information, showing positive results in service quality. Modernizing VBA's technology infrastructure has been challenging, with outdated systems and technical glitches contributing to delays and inefficiencies. Efforts to upgrade technology and implement new systems are ongoing, but progress has been slower than anticipated. Issues with

8712-543: The banks and levees of the lower Mississippi River in early 1927, resulting in the flooding of millions of acres and leaving 1.5 million people displaced from their homes. Although disaster response did not fall under the duties of the Commerce Department , the governors of six states along the Mississippi River specifically asked President Coolidge to appoint Hoover to coordinate the response to

8833-466: The booming economy, combined with deep splits in the Democratic Party over religion and Prohibition, guaranteed his landslide victory. Hoover's appeal to Southern white voters succeeded in cracking the " Solid South ", and he won five Southern states. Hoover's victory was positively received by newspapers; one wrote that Hoover would "drive so forcefully at the tasks now before the nation that

8954-714: The broad powers granted by the Food and Fuel Control Act , the Food Administration supervised food production throughout the United States, and the administration made use of its authority to buy, import, store, and sell food. Determined to avoid rationing, Hoover established set days for people to avoid eating specified foods and save them for soldiers' rations: meatless Mondays , wheatless Wednesdays, and "when in doubt, eat potatoes". These policies were dubbed "Hooverizing" by government publicists, in spite of Hoover's continual orders that publicity should not mention him by name. The Food Administration shipped 23 million metric tons of food to

9075-445: The central agency responsible for administering a range of veterans' benefits, including medical care, disability compensation, and pensions. Following World War II, the VA faced unprecedented challenges as millions of service members sought to claim their benefits. The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 , which was the original "GI Bill", provided education benefits, unemployment compensation, and home loans, significantly impacting

9196-427: The chairman of Stanford's geology department. During his sophomore year, Sam Collins proposed founding, Romero Hall Boarding Club , the first student cooperative boarding house at Romero Hall, for "sociability and economy", which Hoover and William Foster Hidden co-founded. Hoover was a mediocre student, and he spent much of his time working in various part-time jobs or participating in campus activities. Though he

9317-563: The company faced mounting legal and financial issues after one of the partners admitted to having fraudulently sold stock in a mine. More issues arose in 1904 after the British government formed two separate royal commissions to investigate Bewick's labor practices and financial dealings in Western Australia. After the company lost a lawsuit Hoover began looking for a way to get out of the partnership, and he sold his shares in mid-1908. After leaving Bewick, Moreing, Hoover worked as

9438-465: The company would instead deposit the funds into a Prudential corporate account. These accounts are referred to as 'retained asset accounts' and are essentially an I.O.U. from the company to the payee (in many cases a fallen service members' family). While in early 2010 Prudential was making profits of up to 4.2% in its general account, they paid out 0.5% interest in these non-FDIC insured "Alliance" accounts. In some cases, when families requested to be sent

9559-412: The conferences grew and soon embraced motor vehicle standards, rules of the road, and urban traffic control. He left the invited interest groups to negotiate agreements among themselves, which were then presented for adoption by states and localities. Because automotive trade associations were the best organized, many of the positions taken by the conferences reflected their interests. The conferences issued

9680-576: The depression was widely seen as lackluster and he scapegoated Mexican Americans for the economic crisis. Approximately one million Mexican Americans were forcibly "repatriated" to Mexico in a forced migration campaign known as the Mexican Repatriation even though a majority of them were born in the United States. In the midst of the Great Depression, he was decisively defeated by Democratic nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt in

9801-701: The edge of the Great Victoria Desert as a land of "black flies, red dust and white heat". Hoover traveled constantly across the Outback to evaluate and manage the company's mines. He convinced Bewick to purchase the Sons of Gwalia gold mine, which proved to be one of the most successful mines in the region. Partly due to Hoover's efforts, the company eventually controlled approximately 50 percent of gold production in Western Australia . Hoover brought in many Italian immigrants to cut costs and counter

9922-425: The end of his eight years as president will find us looking back on an era of prodigious achievement". Hoover's detractors wondered why he did not do anything to reapportion congress after the 1920 United States census which saw an increase in urban and immigrant populations. The 1920 census was the first and only decennial census where the results were not used to reapportion Congress, which ultimately influenced

10043-470: The federal government's power to inspect planes and license pilots, setting a precedent for the later Federal Aviation Administration . As Commerce Secretary, Hoover hosted national conferences on street traffic collectively known as the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety. Hoover's chief objective was to address the growing casualty toll of traffic accidents , but the scope of

10164-434: The flood crisis, by 1928, Hoover had begun to overshadow President Coolidge himself. Though Hoover received wide acclaim for his role in the crisis, he ordered the suppression of reports of mistreatment of African Americans in refugee camps . He did so with the cooperation of black American leader Robert Russa Moton , who was promised unprecedented influence once Hoover became president. Hoover quietly gathered support for

10285-463: The flood. Believing that disaster response was not the domain of the federal government, Coolidge initially refused to become involved, but he eventually acceded to political pressure and appointed Hoover to chair a special committee to help the region. Hoover established over one hundred tent cities and a fleet of more than six hundred vessels and raised $ 17 million (equivalent to $ 298.18 million in 2023). In large part due to his leadership during

10406-588: The four service academies (but not the Merchant Marine Academy ), and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps are also all eligible. Insurance is available in increments of $ 50,000, up to a maximum of $ 400,000. As of July 1, 2019, SGLI premiums are $ 0.06 per month per $ 1,000 of insurance, regardless of the member's age. An additional $ 1 per month is charged for traumatic injury protection (TSGLI). Accordingly,

10527-521: The general election, and he began laying the groundwork for a future presidential run by building a base of strong supporters in the Republican Party. After his election as president in 1920, Harding rewarded Hoover for his support, offering to appoint him as either Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Commerce . Secretary of Commerce was considered a minor Cabinet post, with limited and vaguely defined responsibilities, but Hoover decided to accept

10648-434: The government. He created many sub-departments and committees, overseeing and regulating everything from manufacturing statistics to air travel . In some instances, he "seized" control of responsibilities from other Cabinet departments when he deemed that they were not carrying out their responsibilities well; some began referring to him as the "Secretary of Commerce and Under-Secretary of all other departments". In response to

10769-541: The implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act, which addresses benefits related to toxic exposures. VBA has faced persistent criticism for significant delays in processing disability claims and appeals, leading to financial hardships and prolonged periods without benefits for veterans, and increased backlogs. While VBA has made efforts to streamline the process, challenges remain. The Appeals Modernization Act of 2017 introduced more efficient options for appeals, but

10890-567: The influential Hoover Commission . Critical assessments of his presidency by historians and political scientists generally rank him as a significantly below-average president, although Hoover has received praise for his actions as a humanitarian and public official. Herbert Clark Hoover was born on August 10, 1874, in West Branch, Iowa . His father, Jesse Hoover, was a blacksmith and farm implement store owner of German, Swiss, and English ancestry. Hoover's mother, Hulda Randall Minthorn,

11011-750: The leadership of the Under Secretary for Benefits (USB), currently Josh Jacobs, who is responsible for overseeing the delivery of benefits and services to veterans and their families. The USB is supported by the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits (PDUSB) who assists the USB in managing the overall operations of VBA and serves as the senior advisor. Under the PDUSB are two additional DUSB offices: The Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Policy and Oversight who manages and oversees

11132-463: The lives of returning veterans. To manage the surge in claims, the VA expanded its workforce and facilities, leading to the establishment of the Department of Veterans Benefits in 1953, the direct predecessor of today's VBA. In the decades following World War II, the VA continued to evolve and expand its services, including after future conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, including expanding the provisions of

11253-509: The lot of the Chinese worker, seeking to end the practice of imposing long-term servitude contracts and to institute reforms for workers based on merit. The Boxer Rebellion broke out shortly after the Hoovers arrived in China, trapping them and numerous other foreign nationals until a multi-national military force defeated Boxer forces in the Battle of Tientsin . Fearing the imminent collapse of

11374-427: The moment, but on August 3, 1914, my career was over forever. I was on the slippery road of public life." By early October 1914, Hoover's organization had distributed relief to at least 40,000 Americans. The German invasion of Belgium in August 1914 set off a food crisis in Belgium, which relied heavily on food imports. The Germans refused to take responsibility for feeding Belgian citizens in captured territory, and

11495-472: The mud" when he repeatedly got trapped in the mud crossing the unpaved street. Herbert's family figured prominently in the town's public prayer life, due almost entirely to mother Hulda's role in the church. As a child, Hoover consistently attended schools, but he did little reading on his own aside from the Bible. Hoover's father, noted by the local paper for his "pleasant, sunshiny disposition", died in 1880 at

11616-455: The nation's food needs during the war. Hoover had hoped to join the administration in some capacity since at least 1916, and he obtained the position after lobbying several members of Congress and Wilson's confidant, Edward M. House . Earning the appellation of "food czar", Hoover recruited a volunteer force of hundreds of thousands of women and deployed propaganda in movie theaters, schools, and churches. He carefully selected men to assist in

11737-453: The only man living who has privately (i.e., without holding office) negotiated understandings with the British, French, German, Dutch, and Belgian governments". War upon Germany was declared in April 1917, and American food was essential to Allied victory. With the U.S. mobilizing for war, President Wilson appointed Hoover to head the U.S. Food Administration , which was charged with ensuring

11858-541: The only ones processed exclusively at local regional offices. Compensation claims can be assigned to any regional office through the National Work Queue, ensuring efficient distribution of workload based on resource availability. Other claims are processed through specialized regional processing structures: Over the past five fiscal years, the VBA has seen requested consistent increases in its budget to accommodate

11979-586: The opposition of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge and other Republicans, Hoover provided aid to the defeated German nation after the war, as well as relief to famine -stricken Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic . Hoover condemned the Bolsheviks but warned President Wilson against an intervention in the Russian Civil War , as he viewed the White Russian forces as little better than

12100-470: The original GI Bill to veterans of both conflicts. post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) was introduced in 1980, providing education benefits to veterans who served after the Vietnam War. VEAP allowed eligible veterans to contribute to an education fund, with the government matching their contributions to help cover the costs of education and training. In 1984, Congress passed

12221-795: The policies and enforces the procedures The Compensation Service provides tax-free monetary benefits to veterans with disabilities resulting from or aggravated by military service. Veterans can apply for disability compensation online, by mail, or in person at a VA regional office. VBA evaluates claims based on the severity of the disability and its impact on the veteran's ability to work. Veterans may also receive additional compensation for dependents. Lesser-known compensation areas include: The Pension and Fiduciary Service offers pension programs for wartime veterans and their survivors. The Veterans Pension provides monthly payments to wartime veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements and have limited income and net worth. The Survivors Pension, also known as

12342-399: The popular Commerce Secretary's candidacy. Many wary Republican leaders cast about for an alternative candidate, such as Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon or former secretary of state Charles Evans Hughes . However, Hughes and Mellon declined to run, and other potential contenders like Frank Orren Lowden and Vice President Charles G. Dawes failed to garner widespread support. Hoover won

12463-476: The position. Hoover's progressive stances, continuing support for the League of Nations , and recent conversion to the Republican Party aroused opposition to his appointment from many Senate Republicans . To overcome this opposition, Harding paired Hoover's nomination with that of conservative favorite Andrew Mellon as Secretary of the Treasury , and the nominations of both Hoover and Mellon were confirmed by

12584-418: The presidential nomination on the first ballot of the 1928 Republican National Convention . Convention delegates considered re-nominating Vice President Charles Dawes to be Hoover's running mate , but Coolidge, who hated Dawes, remarked that this would be "a personal affront" to him. The convention instead selected Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas. Hoover accepted the nomination at Stanford Stadium , telling

12705-629: The rising number of claims and to enhance service delivery. The budget requests have focused on various modernization initiatives, such as updating the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, support for new legislative mandates, such as the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act and the PACT Act , and improvements and expansion of various benefits management systems. While the requested amounts generally aim to reflect

12826-440: The rollout of new electronic health record systems have further complicated these efforts. Investments in new claims processing software, enhanced data analytics, and improved cybersecurity measures are expected to reduce processing times and improve service delivery. Concerns about the transparency and accountability of VBA's operations have been raised. Critics argue that VBA has not always been forthcoming about its challenges and

12947-641: The situation by offering Hoover a compelling position in China . Upon arriving in China, Hoover developed gold mines near Tianjin on behalf of Bewick and the Chinese-owned Chinese Engineering and Mining Company . He became deeply interested in Chinese history , but gave up on learning the language to a fluent level . He publicly warned that Chinese workers were inefficient and racially inferior. He made recommendations to improve

13068-547: The starving millions in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Russia. Hoover's wartime service made him a favorite of many progressives , and he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 1920 U.S. presidential election . Hoover served as the secretary of commerce under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge . Hoover was an unusually active and visible Cabinet member, becoming known as "Secretary of Commerce and Under-Secretary of all other departments." He

13189-725: The steps being taken to address them. Calls for increased transparency and better communication with veterans and the public aim to build trust and ensure accountability. Regular reports and audits have been suggested as ways to improve transparency. VBA has launched various outreach and education initiatives, including online resources, informational webinars, and collaboration with veteran service organizations to increase awareness and access to benefits. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964)

13310-475: The supply. Their plan was to drastically cut back on output from British Malaya , which had the effect of tripling rubber prices. Hoover energetically gave a series of speeches and interviews denouncing the monopolistic practice and demanding that it be ended. The American State Department wanted no such crisis and compromised the issue in 1926. By then Hoover had solved his image problem, and during his 1928 campaign he successfully squelched attacks that alleged he

13431-830: The use of retained asset accounts have been dismissed in federal courts without action. Insurance coverage similar to SGLI is replicated by a few other private organizations. These include the Military Benefit Association (MBA), the United Services Automobile Association ( USAA ), the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA) , the Uniformed Services Benefit Association (USBA), the Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association (ASMBA), and

13552-723: The war and the revolutions that followed it. The collection was renamed the Hoover War Library in 1922 and is now known as the Hoover Institution Library and Archives . During the post-war period, Hoover also served as the president of the Federated American Engineering Societies. Hoover had been little known among the American public before 1914, but his service in the Wilson administration established him as

13673-414: The world's troubles, such as famine in Belgium, as well as specific American problems which he had solved as food commissioner during the world war. The third solution to was to fall back on that old tactic of twisting the British tail. He employed that solution in 1925–1926 in the worldwide rubber crisis. The American auto industry consumed 70% of the world's output, but British investors controlled much of

13794-519: The year before. The Minthorn household was considered cultured and educational, and imparted a strong work ethic. Much like West Branch, Newberg was a frontier town settled largely by Midwestern Quakers. Minthorn ensured that Hoover received an education, but Hoover disliked the many chores assigned to him and often resented Minthorn. One observer described Hoover as "an orphan [who] seemed to be neglected in many ways". Hoover attended Friends Pacific Academy (now George Fox University ), but dropped out at

13915-409: Was a risk that he would be labeled a British tool. There were three solutions, all of which he tried in close collaboration with the media, which greatly admired him. First came the image of the dispassionate scientist, emotionally uninvolved but always committed to finding and implementing the best possible solution. The second solution was to gain the reputation of a humanitarian, deeply concerned with

14036-637: Was dominated by the Great Depression , and his policies and methods to combat it were seen as lackluster. Amid his unpopularity, he decisively lost reelection to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 . Born to a Quaker family in West Branch, Iowa , Hoover grew up in Oregon . He was one of the first graduates of the new Stanford University in 1895. Hoover took a position with a London-based mining company working in Australia and China. He rapidly became

14157-560: Was influential in the development of air travel and radio. Hoover led the federal response to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 . He won the Republican nomination in the 1928 presidential election and defeated Democratic candidate Al Smith in a landslide. In 1929, Hoover assumed the presidency. However, during his first year in office, the stock market crashed , signaling the onset of the Great Depression, which dominated Hoover's presidency until its end. His response to

14278-485: Was initially shy among fellow students, Hoover won election as student treasurer and became known for his distaste for fraternities and sororities . He served as student manager of both the baseball and football teams , and helped organize the inaugural Big Game versus the University of California . During the summers before and after his senior year, Hoover interned under economic geologist Waldemar Lindgren of

14399-469: Was raised in Norwich, Ontario , Canada, before moving to Iowa in 1859. Like most other citizens of West Branch, Jesse and Hulda were Quakers . Around age two "Bertie", as he was called during that time, contracted a serious bout of croup , and was momentarily thought to have died until resuscitated by his uncle, John Minthorn. As a young child he was often referred to by his father as "my little stick in

14520-498: Was the 31st president of the United States , serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and was the director of the U.S. Food Administration , followed by post-war relief of Europe. A member of the Republican Party , he served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1921 to 1928 before being elected president in 1928 . His presidency

14641-624: Was too close to British interests. With the goal of encouraging wise business investments, Hoover made the Commerce Department a clearinghouse of information. He recruited numerous academics from various fields and tasked them with publishing reports on different aspects of the economy, including steel production and films. To eliminate waste, he encouraged standardization of products like automobile tires and baby bottle nipples. Other efforts at eliminating waste included reducing labor losses from trade disputes and seasonal fluctuations, reducing industrial losses from accident and injury, and reducing

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