The Hoover Institution, formally known as the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, is a prominent American conservative-leaning public policy think tank and research institution located at Stanford University. Founded in 1919 by Herbert Hoover initially to collect and study documents related to World War I, it has evolved into one of the most influential policy research centers in the United States. The institution focuses on promoting personal and economic liberty, free enterprise, limited government, and democratic governance. Although affiliated with Stanford, it operates independently with its own board of overseers and funding primarily from private conservative philanthropists and foundations. The Hoover Institution conducts research, hosts fellows, and publishes works on economics, international affairs, national security, and public policy, often advancing neoconservative and free-market perspectives. It has played a significant role in shaping conservative thought, with notable fellows including economists like Milton Friedman, political figures such as Condoleezza Rice, and key neoconservative intellectuals. Peter Thiel also serves on its board. The institution maintains a vast library and archives, serving as an important resource for scholars studying 20th-century history and politics. While it has established a senior fellowship named in honor of Hoover and his wife, it has also faced criticism for ideological bias, close ties to political figures, and controversies related to its funding and perceived partisanship. Nonetheless, no major legal actions have significantly affected its operations, and it remains a vital center within networks of conservative influence.