<i>and very arguably contributed to the Great Depression that happened the year after his term ended.</i><p>The Great Depression was triggered by the US Fed (created in 1913), which massively increased the money supply, and the passage of the disastrous Smoot-Hawley trade protection bill in 1929.<p>Note that the money supply increase gave birth to the Roaring 20's, not unlike what we've had for the last seven years (up till early 2008). Note that the current US administration is also increasing trade protection as well (Chinese tires, etc.)