National Affairs: Hoover Halfway

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Because every President must have able and loyal aides, President Hoover in 1929 gathered around him a group of men he called "new patriots," because they gave up good private jobs for Federal service. Chairman Alexander Legge of the Farm Board was the shining example. But before long the supply of "new patriots" ran out and President Hoover was compelled to pick run-of-the-mill applicants. He created a good impression when he sent Charles Gates Dawes to the Court of St. James's and then spoiled it by a succession of appointments which he himself probably did not regard as much better than average.