Hoover Elected President

Herbert Hoover was inaugurated as the 31^st President of the United States in 1929. During his Presidency, Hoover focused on pushing farm subsidy bills through congress; cracking down on gangsters participating in tax evasion (Al Capone was prosecuted); increased the amount of land used for National Parks and Forests (5.3 million acres).  Herbert Hoover was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts. He launched the ‘Forward Movement and Development Program’ during a dinner in honor of the 20^th Anniversary of the BSA in 1930.

2, Non-Scouting

Coolidge Becomes President

John Calvin Coolidge Jr., became the 30^th President shortly after President Harding died of a heart attack and was elected President on his own accord in 1924. President Coolidge had two sons that were Boy Scouts. In 1926, Coolidge attended the 16^th Annual Meeting of the National Council in Washington DC. There, the President presented the first Silver Buffalo Awards. Some of the recipients that year included: Lord Baden-Powell, Dan Beard, James West, W.D. Boyce, E.T. Seton, and the Unknown Scout. Coolidge himself would receive the Silver Buffalo Award in 1929.

2, Non-Scouting

First World War Ends

Germany signed the armistice with the Allies on November 11, 1918, marking the official end of World War I (November 11 became known as Armistice Day and later Veterans Day.)

Both Goodman and Edson returned to Scouting after their service in the War without having to go overseas. Goodman returns to Philadelphia Council as Scout Executive (he had been appointed to this position just before entering the military) and Edson began work at the National Council office in New York.

2, Non-Scouting

Harding Elected President

President Warren G. Harding was inaugurated as the 29^th President of the United States. He was also the first sitting Senator to become President. Harding’s famous line "Return to Normalcy” was a call to return to a way of life before World War I.

Harding took a laissez-faire approach to leading this country, but was still able to make several contributions during his term. The establishment of the Bureau of the Budget was a great achievement for the President. He also consolidated five separate bureaus into one – the Veteran’s Bureau. Both of these bureaus reduced government spending. Unfortunately, corruption in his cabinet yielded a perceived lack of effectiveness as a President. In 1923, President Harding gave out “Harding Awards” to Scout troops who increased in membership. There were 5,508 Harding Awards that were awarded that year. He is quoted as saying, “I am with the Scout movement heart and soul.”

2, Non-Scouting