did tariffs cause the Great Depression? “Certainly not,” says Gary Richardson, economics professor at the University of California, Irvine and former historian of the Federal Reserve System.

Actions of the central bank can be mistaken. But long history shows that no matter the party, presidents often push for actions that may not be good for the economy.

Several factors led to the Great Depression, one of the most severe economic crises in U.S. history. NPR interviewed ...