Hoover's treatment of the Bonus Army greatly hurt his standing with the public.  The Bonus Army gets its name from the Bonus that these World War I vets were promised. They were promised a delayed cash bonus at the end of the war.  This delay was alright during the 1920's when times were good, but when these veterans were suffering from poverty in the Depression, they really wanted and needed this money.  They began to ask President Hoover to give them their money early.  When Hooper refused, they gathered together and about 15,000 of them marched on Washington in 1932.  With little or no resources, they were forced to camp out within the city of Washington building their own little Hooverville.  President Hoover was not amused and he not only refused to help them, he sent Douglas MacArthur after them with tanks.  MacArthur set their camp aflame and forced them from Washington.  This picture of Hoover sending the army after down and out former soldiers drew much criticism and greatly increased his reputation as uncaring and unfeeling.  It also greatly hurt his reelection bid that year, helping FDR into office.