Which U.S. president was in office during the 1929 Wall Street Crash?

Herbert Hoover was the U.S. president in office during the 1929 Wall Street Crash.

Hoover took office in March 1929, several months before the market’s dramatic collapse in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had reached a record closing level in September, but heavy selling later produced several major panic days, including Black Thursday and Black Tuesday.

The crash did not by itself create the entire Great Depression. It was followed by bank failures, falling production, deflation, reduced international trade, and severe unemployment. These problems developed over several years and affected countries around the world.

A common mix-up is identifying Franklin D. Roosevelt as president during the crash. Roosevelt was elected in 1932 and took office in March 1933. Hoover therefore led the federal government during the crash and the early years of the ensuing economic crisis.