Hoover on Liberalism

By Thomas F. Schwartz

The corruption of language to promote a political agenda has been debated throughout history. The most memorable illustration is George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 using the term "double speak" to criticize authoritarian regimes. Hoover frequently complained about the how the term "liberalism" went from its nineteenth century usage of someone who believed in protecting individual freedom and limited government to the New Deal usage of government programs exerting broad powers that undermined the traditional definition. Traditional liberalism cherished individual freedom above government, carefully circumscribing the role of government in an individual's life. In the writings of Scottish moral philosopher Adam Smith and American President Abraham Lincoln, Hoover read and drew upon both in his own formulation of limited government.

In An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), Smith ends with his vision of "natural liberty": "Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man, or order of men. The sovereign is completely discharged from a duty, in the attempting to perform which he must always be exposed to innumerable delusions, and for the proper performance of which no human wisdom or knowledge could ever be sufficient; the duty of superintending the industry of private people, and of directing it towards the employments most suitable to the interest of the society." Smith argued the sovereign or governing authority had but three duties: 1) protection of citizens from violence or invasion, 2) administer equal justice to citizens, and 3) erect and maintain certain public works and institutions beyond the capability of private or corporate entities to create and maintain.

It is uncertain whether Abraham Lincoln ever read Adam Smith. But Lincoln's reading of the Declaration of Independence and Debates on the Constitution made him familiar with natural rights and liberalism justifications associated with protecting individual freedom over government intrusions. In an undated speech fragment, Lincoln wrote: "The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves-in their separate, and individual capacities. In all that the people can individually do as well for themselves, government ought not to interfere."

On May 21, 1959, Hoover provided a statement on the scope and purposes of The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace. He stated:

But the American system goes far beyond the provisions of the Constitution and laws. Our people hold concepts of voluntary and cooperative associations far beyond the range of government….

Ours is a system where the Federal Government should undertake no governmental, social or economic action, except where local government or the people cannot undertake it for themselves.

A purpose of this Institution is to support these great associational activities.

Hoover's belief that protecting individual freedom and initiative from government oversight and intrusion was not a laissez faire philosophy. He believed that government had a positive role to play when needed. Associations, however, could often provide the role instead of government. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the 1830s: "Americans of all ages, all conditions, all minds constantly unite… Americans use associations to give fetes, to found seminaries, to build inns, to raise churches, to distribute books, to send missionaries to the antipodes; in this manner they create hospitals, prisons, schools. Finally, if it is a question of bringing to light a truth or developing a sentiment with the support of a great example, they associate."