Who first called prohibition, "A Noble Experiment"?

Question

Who called such an ignoble effort a "noble experiment"?

A hint. The person who is most often cited as saying it was horribly misquoted.

He said, "Our country has deliberately undertaken a great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose. It must be worked out constructively."

Here it is. Check page 201 and 202.

http://www.ecommcode.com/hoover/ebooks/pdf/FULL/B1V2_Full.pdf

Answer 1

Herbert Hoover

Answer 2

Herbert Hoover called prohibition a "noble experiment," but the effort to regulate people's behavior soon ran into trouble. Enforcement of prohibition became very difficult. Soon, such terms as "bootlegger," "bath tub gin," and "speakeasy" became household words. Gangs of hoodlums became more powerful as they trafficked in alcohol. By the 1930s, a majority of Americans had tired of the noble experiment, and the 18th Amendment was repealed.

Have not been able to find it as a misquote, he was a politician though. Most folk would have the tendency to deny should a thing misguided as such is. Every attempt at legislating morals has and still does result in disaster. Ignoble for sure.

Answer 3

A Noble Experiment

Answer 4

President Herbert Hoover

Answer 5

Was it Woodrow Wilson? His administration instituted prohibition. Or was it FDR, because prohibition was the only government program he didn't keep or expand. Or was it Ronald Reagan, because he reinstated prohibition, except for street drugs instead of alcohol.

Answer 6

"...but doomed to failure."

I think that was Joe Kennedy, said during one of his rum-runs.