Herbert Hoover believed that the future of freedom was at stake in the election of 1936 because he saw President Roosevelt's New Deal policies as a threat to individual freedom and economic liberty. In Hoover's view, the New Deal represented an expansion of federal power that would lead to government overreach, bureaucratic control, and a loss of individual autonomy. He believed that the New Deal would create a dependence on government and undermine the values of self-reliance and individual responsibility that were essential to American democracy.
Hoover's definition of freedom differed from that of Roosevelt in several key ways. For Hoover, freedom was primarily about individual rights and economic liberty. He believed that the government should play a limited role in the economy, and that individuals should be free to pursue their own interests and build their own businesses without undue interference from the government. Hoover's vision of freedom was rooted in a traditional laissez-faire approach to economics and a belief in the power of the market to regulate itself.
In contrast, Roosevelt's definition of freedom was more expansive, and focused on the role of government in protecting and promoting the well-being of all citizens. Roosevelt believed that freedom meant more than just individual rights and economic liberty, and that the government had a responsibility to ensure that all citizens had access to basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare. Roosevelt's New Deal policies were aimed at providing a safety net for those in need, and creating a more equitable society where all citizens had the opportunity to thrive.