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help but wonder what the future would bring as we kids grew up. For
me, the desperate times made me realize that it was essential to get an
education. Even so, there could be limited opportunities, but one would
probably face hardships without it.
Gradually, people in the United States felt that President Herbert
Hoover was simply “lost” without a clue as to how to lead the country
out of its troubles. President Hoover was not considered an evil man,
simply a man facing problems he had no idea how to resolve.
From a chronological standpoint, I should mention that when
the Depression took hold (about 1931) a committee of three business-
men was appointed to administer what public and private aid could be
given to those in greatest need. My Dad was one of the three (Louis
B. Marcus, another member, was subsequently elected Mayor of Salt
Lake City). Incidentally, I am proud of the religious tolerance shown
in Utah as I was growing up. Utah had the second Jewish Governor in
the United States, Simon Bamberger – 1916-1920 – he chose not to see
re-election – and Louis Marcus was a Jew. In any case, the food aid that
this group was able to supply was a help, but grossly inadequate for the
overall problem.
In 1933, Dad left the State Fair Manager job. The Fair was
temporarily discontinued. The Roosevelt administration began to pour
money into reviving the U.S. economy. Dad became the Federal Gov-
ernment’s Manager of Public Works and Welfare for Salt Lake County.
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policies, rules, etc. to guide the administration. He got work started im-
mediately on things like improving Salt Lake City’s public parks and
schools. Through the boilermaking business Dad had dealt with Strev-
ell Patterson Hardware and Salt Lake Hardware companies. He called
these companies and ordered shovels, rakes and so on by the hundreds.
These companies had no federal government authorization – just Dad’s
personal word. They promptly supplied what he requested. I think it was
a real tribute to him because it was his reputation alone that guaranteed
that these companies would be paid.
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public facilities to deteriorate during the prosperous 1920s. For exam-

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