Chuck Grassley: “a distinguished Iowan once wrote: ``I prefer to think of Iowa as I saw it through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. Those…”

“a distinguished Iowan once wrote: ``I prefer to think of Iowa as I saw it through the eyes of a 10-year-old boy. Those were eyes filled with the wonders of Iowa's streams and woods, of the mystery of growing crops. They saw days filled with adventure and great undertakings, with participation in good and comforting things. They saw days of stern but kindly discipline.'' That 10-year-old Iowa boy later became the 31st President of the United States. Herbert Clark Hoover was the first U.S. President to be born west of the Mississippi River. President Hoover's home until he was 11 years old was in West Branch, IA. And the Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch is the place where he returned upon his death in 1964. Born into a Quaker family in 1874, he was raised in the Quaker tradition by his parents until their untimely deaths. Then, he was raised by other family members. During his formative years, he was taught the principles of honesty, hard work, simplicity, and generosity. Herbert Hoover's life was one of great undertakings. An accomplished and successful engineer, he put his organizational skills to work during the First World War. In England at the outbreak of the war he helped, often with his own money, to get his fellow Americans back home. When Belgium was invaded and the Belgian people were in need of food, Herbert Hoover responded. He instituted food relief efforts as the head of the Belgian Relief Campaign.”