Hoover WAS a Wilsonian Progressive up until 1920 (not “officially” a Democrat, but a de facto one who worked for Wilson as Food Czar). He was well regarded enough that he could’ve been offered the Presidential nomination for that year (can you imagine, Hoover being nominated and FDR as his running mate !?!).
Hoover, seeing that the Democrats were going to be obliterated in 1920, affiliated with (the left-wing of) the Republicans and got into the Presidential contest for that year (losing, of course). Indeed, any Democrat nominated that year would’ve lost, and the GOP could’ve put up a ficus plant.
One thing not often mentioned, he urged Wilson not to intervene on behalf of the White Russians to stop the Bolsheviks (instead, he disregarded politics to feed millions of pro-Bolsheviks). While this may have been a wonderful act of humanitarianism, smashing the Bolsheviks early would’ve halted the rise of Lenin & Stalin and prevented the countless millions they themselves ended up killing. Indeed, with no premier and powerful Communist state, other burgeoning evil nations would’ve been provided no quarter.
Sadly, as for Andrew Mellon, he declined outright to run in 1928. Hoover managed to outhustle a lot of potential opponents within the GOP. President Coolidge wasn’t exactly happy with him, either, noting, “for six years that man has given me unsolicited advice, all of it bad.” He didn’t publicly oppose his candidacy, especially when it appeared he had the nomination locked up.
Didn’t know that about the White Russians, what an idiot.
Like you said, they needed to change the lyrics in the “All in the Family” theme song.