Final answer:
President Hoover ordered the military to forcefully disperse the Bonus Army in 1932, which led to casualties and public outrage.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Hoover did not effectively aid the Bonus Army; instead, he ordered the military to disperse the protesting veterans violently in 1932, worsening the crisis.
The Bonus Army, composed of 15,000 World War I veterans and their families, camped in Washington, D.C., to demand early payment of their bonuses amidst the Great Depression. The conflict escalated when Hoover instructed the army to remove the veterans, leading to injuries, a baby's death, and intense public and media criticism of Hoover's presidency.
Despite the veterans' desperate situation and the public's sympathy, Hoover prioritized maintaining a balanced budget over providing immediate financial assistance, ultimately contributing to his loss in the subsequent presidential election.