Herbert Hoover and China

From China, Paul Simon writes: "Hoover is greatly admired by most FSOs who serve in China.(As an aside, we HATE being called "China Hands". If you are curious, feel free to ask why. [Yes,Paul, why?]). Hoover worked in China at the turn of the last century. Both he and his wife spoke Mandarin (and later used that skill to gossip about annoying guests at the White House--my wife and I are similarly naughty, often using Mandarin or Korean when we are back Stateside and don't want to be overheard). Apparently, both Hoover and his wife manned the barricades at Tianjin (Tientsin, as it was erroneously Romanized then) during the Boxer Rebellion. One source I read asserted that they had both gunned down a fair share of Boxer rebels, but a Professor at Georgetown disputed this to me, claiming that the former President arrived in Tianjin the year after the siege was lifted.

Today I look at what many agree was a horribly mismanaged China policy in the 30's and 40's. Some historians and journalists, such as Theodore White and Barbara Tuchmann blame FDR, noting that he foolishly considered himself a China expert by virtue of the fact that his grandfather had been an opium trader in China and told him stories about the "Middle Kingdom". I can't help but wonder if things might not have turned out better in these parts if Herbert Hoover had been in charge of China policy. He had the real experience and language skills!"

My comment on "language skills" Much as I wish to do justice to Herbert Hoover, he had no language skills. He failed German at Stanford, and English was his "nemesis". He would have flunked out of Stanford had not a kind professor helped him with his English paper. I doubt he spoke Mandarin. He and his wife Lou Henry Hoover published De re metallica / Georgius Agricola ; translated from the first Latin ed. of 1556, with biographical introd., annotations and appendices upon the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy & mining law from the earliest times to the 16th century. It was commonly said that his very able wife made the translation, and that he simply prepared the explanatory notes. Probably his wife learned Mandarin, and as a dutiful husband simply nodded in assent. He was a man of few words. Is there any solid evidence about his speaking Mandarin?

As for his gunning down Boxers, I doubt that a devout Quaker would have done so.

Ronald Hilton - 11/18/01