WhenLouHenrymarriedHerbertHooverinFebruary1899,shelookedforwardtoapartnershipofequalityandalifeofadventure.Shecouldfirearifleandsitahorseaswellasanyman.TheQuakercommunityofWhittier,California,whereshelivedasateen,reinforcedtheegalitarianspiritofherupbringing.ButhistoryhadotherideasforLouHenryHoover.Forthefirstfifteenyearsofmarriedlife,Louglobe-trottedwithherhusbandashepursuedalucrativecareerinminingengineeringandconsulting.WorldWarInotonlychangedthemapoftheworld,itchangedthemapoftheHoovers’marriage.HerbertHoover’sCommissionfortheReliefofBelgiumlaunchedhimintoapoliticalcareerthatledtotheWhiteHouse.Lou,whodetestedthelimelight,ledaduallife:shesupportedherhusband’spoliticalcareer,managedtheirmultiplehouseholds,andsawtotheneedsoftheirfamily.Behindthescenes,shepursuedherowninterests.Historyhaslongsinceforgottenthebreadthofherachievements,butLouHenryHoover’spowerfullegacyenduresintheongoingsuccessoftheGirlScouts,themusicandphysicaltherapydegreeprogramsatStanfordUniversity,athleticopportunitiesforwomen,andthecountlessunknownmenandwomenwhoreceivedaneducationthankstoLou’sanonymousfinancialsupport.ConveyingLou’shumor,personality,andintelligence,AWomanofAdventuretakesafreshlookatthefirstladywhoprecededEleanorRooseveltandheralso-extraordinaryaccomplishments.
California ADVENTURE WOMAN MARRIAGE PERSONALITY
