Political Fanfare

In 1928 President-elect Herbert Hoover made a tour of Latin America. On December 13, his train reached Buenos Aires, where he was greeted by Argentina’s President Hipólito Yrigoyen and members of his cabinet. The crowd was so large that they were able to break through the policemen and soldiers lined up to keep order. They chanted “Viva Hoover!” until his automobile was finally able to leave the station. The streets he traversed to get to the U.S. Embassy, where he would stay during his visit, were lined with 100,000 people eager to catch a glimpse of the popular celebrity.            

Upon his arrival at the embassy, Hoover gave a short speech, in which he said, “I could imagine no more wonderful introduction into Argentina than the Andes,” adding that “one is plunged at once into a realization of its greatness, its splendid development and its magnificent resources.” He concluded with: 

“I have a feeling of exaltation at the accomplishment of the people of Argentina, to which I have been a witness. I am deeply grateful for the genuine spirit of kindliness and welcome extended to me by President Irigoyen and evidenced by the many thousands of people along the way here.”            

Security Measures

Not everyone was happy about the visit, however. Argentinian police and U.S. Secret Service agents had implemented carefully prearranged security measures. A planned demonstration by the Nicaraguan rebel chief, General Augustino Sandino, had been thwarted by the arrest of four people who had also intended to bomb the train on which Hoover arrived. Following their interrogation, the police raided a house “frequented by radicals,” arrested 50 men, and confiscated bombs and ammunition.           

Brass Commemorative 

A 65mm brass medal was struck to commemorate the visit. The obverse inscription around the rim reads A HERBERT C. HOOVER/PRESIDENTE ELECTO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. The seals of Argentina and the United States are in the center, with the date, 13 DICIEMBRE 1928, on a scroll beneath them. On the reverse, LA CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES/CAPITAL FEDERAL DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA is around the rim, with the city’s coat of arms depicted in the center. GOTTUZZO Y PIANA appears in tiny letters within the circle at the lower right. This is the signature of the medal’s manufacturer. 

The Buenos Aires firm of Gottuzzo & Piana is well known to collectors of numismatic items from Argentina. Established in 1884 by Juan Gottuzzo, the company produced hundreds of medals during its 30-year operation. While Hoover was in Buenos Aires, he was visited by John D. Hoover, a second cousin who lived on a large ranch in Montevideo, Uruguay. John, who was there on behalf of his country’s government, invited his relative to extend the length of his visit to Uruguay during the tour. He was also visited by Eusebio Ayala, a former president of Paraguay, who was chairman of a delegation seeking the assistance of our government in resolving a boundary dispute between his country and Bolivia. 

City Tour

It was not all work and no play during the visit. In addition to the expected meetings and discussions related to the relationship between the two countries, Hoover toured Buenos Aires. During a visit to the city hall, Hoover was presented with a gold medal as a gift from the municipality. On Saturday, Hoover and his wife were Irigoyen’s guests at a gala opera performance, and it was reported that they “sat in a box toward which every eye was glued hroughout the entire performance.” That evening, he was honored with a banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at the presidential palace, attended by nearly 100 government and diplomatic officials. When he arrived at the palace, Hoover was greeted by Irigoyen and according to an article in the December 16 Evening Star, a Washington, D.C., newspaper, the two men “ascended the white marble staircase beneath an arch formed by the sabers of the San Martin Grenadiers garbed in San Martin blue, trimmed with red and gold, with shining metal helmets on their heads.” The meal was described as including “many courses of fish, fowl, meat and champagne and wines.” 

Honored Guests

First Lady Lou Hoover also had a busy time in Buenos Aires. At her request, she was escorted to the Rivadavia Maternity Hospital, where she showed an obvious interest in the functioning of the wards she visited. That evening, she was the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by President Irigoyen’s sister. The visit ended on Sunday, December 16, and according to American newspaper reports, Hoover left “with memories of the most beautiful social affairs and entertainment probably ever held in honor of a visiting dignitary in South America.” The president and members of his party were then transported to the next stop on the tour, Montevideo. President Irigoyen supplied the Argentine cruiser Buenos Aires for the 12-hour voyage across the Plata River. Following that visit, Hoover traveled to his last stop, Paraguay, after which he started the return trip to the United States on board the battleship USS Utah. 

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A version of this article appears in the January 2026 issue of The Numismatist (money.org)