Great Depression

In 1939, DC launched a major criminal investigation into a bootlegging ring, allegedly trafficking thousands of gallons of contraband into the federal district. There was bribery, wiretapping, alleged attempts on detectives' lives, and even a scheme involving racing pigeons. The contraband? Cream.

In 1932, amid the Great Depression, thousands of WWI veterans marched on Washington demanding early pension payments. Their encampment near the Anacostia River and protests on Pennsylvania Avenue alarmed President Hoover, who ordered their forcible removal after Congress rejected their demands. The clash, dubbed the Battle of Washington, deeply impacted Eleanor Roosevelt and shaped her resolve to prevent future injustices.