Before classifying each president in the categories of "liberal" and "conservative," it must first be understood what is meant by each term. During the time of the Great Depression, a liberal was usually associated with "political equality, free speech, free assembly, free press, and equality of opportunity." It was directly derived from the word "liberty" which meant freedom. Today, the definition changes drastically. A liberal is someone who thinks government can solve problems, and someone who trusts government. They believe in more government spending (such as in social plans) and are not turned off because of raised taxes, knowing full well the money taken away will do the country good. Frankly, liberals believe in more government in the daily lives of people. Conservatives believe in directly the opposite of what liberals do. They believe heavily in the free enterprise system (private ownership). Their economics rely on the theory of supply and demand and profit motive. Their lassiez-faire policy was introduced in a book The Wealth of Nations by Adam

President Hoover, a strong believer in traditional values, can definitely be described as a conservative. His initial "hands-off" policy in dealing with the Great Depression show this well. He believed in the business cycle and that the country would pull its self out of the depression. He did not want to use government power in dealing with this catastrophe, mainly because of his predecessor's tradition of lassiez-faire. Hoover stated in an election speech, "Every step of bureaucratizing of the business of our country poisons the very roots of liberalism (old definition)." As government gets bigger, there are needed more offices, agencies and bureau's to handle affairs. This bureaucracy, he said, would take the American people's freedom right from them. He felt a great need to take government out of peoples lives more then ever. Even after the depression hit, Hoover was convinced that government could do nothing to help the country out this cataclysm. He said in 1930, "Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement." He felt that no matter what happens, government actions can do no good for the economy, and that only the people can pull themselves out.

To say that President Franklin D. Roosevelt is a liberal and that President Herbert Hoover was a conservative is only half-true. Both men lead their country through the perils of the depression with conservative goals in mind, and both men had to resort to liberals actions to preserve conservatism. Roosevelt best described himself and Hoover as being "that kind of conservative because (of being) that kind of liberal."

Smith. This economic policy can be seen directly in the rest of what con

Some common words found in the essay are:
President Hoover, Herbert Hoover, Delano Roosevelt, Roosevelt's Deal, Adam Smith, CWA PWA, Maynard Keynes, Franklin Roosevelt, hoover conservative, people's lives, true conservative, deal liberal, President Franklin, president franklin, President Herbert, liberal president herbert, government spending, conservatives believe, hoover administration, president franklin roosevelt, government help, people's lives hoover, government actions, herbert hoover conservative, president herbert hoover,
Approximate Word count = 1140
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)