J. Edgar HooverJ. Edgar Hoover1895-19721895-1972

BackgroundBackground Born January 1, 1895 in Washington, D. C.Born January 1, 1895 in Washington, D. C. Parents: Dickerson and Anna HooverParents: Dickerson and Anna Hoover Hoover did not obtain a birth certificate until Hoover did not obtain a birth certificate until

he was 43, which fueled suspicions, in and out he was 43, which fueled suspicions, in and out of the bureau, that he was of African-American of the bureau, that he was of African-American descent – a family out of Mississippi tried to descent – a family out of Mississippi tried to prove these allegations, but failed.prove these allegations, but failed.

He kept detailed records on himself, teachers, He kept detailed records on himself, teachers, and family members starting at a young age.and family members starting at a young age.

At age 11, started his own newspaper, At age 11, started his own newspaper, The The Weekly ReviewWeekly Review, that he sold to family and , that he sold to family and friends for 1 cent.friends for 1 cent.

Background continued…Background continued…

His school nickname was “Speed” because His school nickname was “Speed” because he thought fast and talked fast.he thought fast and talked fast.

Hoover’s father, Dickerson, spent the last Hoover’s father, Dickerson, spent the last eight years of his life in an asylum. His eight years of his life in an asylum. His cause of death was listed as “melancholia” cause of death was listed as “melancholia” – clinical depression.– clinical depression.

1916 – graduated with a law degree from 1916 – graduated with a law degree from George Washington University Law George Washington University Law School.School.

Hoover became a Freemason in 1920.Hoover became a Freemason in 1920.

Background continued…Background continued… Hoover’s failure to Hoover’s failure to

marry and his constant marry and his constant companionship with companionship with Clyde Tolson, led to Clyde Tolson, led to many rumors about his many rumors about his sexuality.sexuality.

Clyde Tolson was the Clyde Tolson was the sole heir to Hoover’s sole heir to Hoover’s estate and was also estate and was also buried next to Hoover.buried next to Hoover.

Hoover was also an Hoover was also an avid dog lover.avid dog lover.

Head of the FBIHead of the FBI Hoover joined the Bureau of Investigation, Hoover joined the Bureau of Investigation,

later known as the FBI, in 1921.later known as the FBI, in 1921. In 1924 at the age of 29, Hoover was In 1924 at the age of 29, Hoover was

appointed acting Director of the BOI and by appointed acting Director of the BOI and by the end of the year he was officially named the end of the year he was officially named Director.Director.

Hoover remained the Director of the FBI until Hoover remained the Director of the FBI until his death on May 2, 1972 at the age of 77.his death on May 2, 1972 at the age of 77.

The FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. is The FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. is named after Hoover. Because of the named after Hoover. Because of the controversial nature of Hoover's legacy, there controversial nature of Hoover's legacy, there have been periodic proposals to rename it.have been periodic proposals to rename it.

Head of the FBIHead of the FBI During his reign over the FBI, Hoover built During his reign over the FBI, Hoover built

an efficient crime-detection agency, an efficient crime-detection agency, established a centralized fingerprint file, a established a centralized fingerprint file, a crime laboratory and a training institution for crime laboratory and a training institution for police.police.

He dictated every aspect of his agents’ lives He dictated every aspect of his agents’ lives from who their friends should or should not from who their friends should or should not be, who they should or should not marry, be, who they should or should not marry, what organizations they could or could not what organizations they could or could not join; decided where they would live; join; decided where they would live; monitored their morals; even told them what monitored their morals; even told them what to wear and what they could weigh; and to wear and what they could weigh; and bestowed praise and awards, blame and bestowed praise and awards, blame and punishments, when punishments, when hehe decided they were due. decided they were due.

Head of the FBIHead of the FBI The FBI, under Hoover, collected information on The FBI, under Hoover, collected information on

all America's leading politicians. Known as all America's leading politicians. Known as Hoover's secret files, this material was used to Hoover's secret files, this material was used to influence their actions. It was later claimed that influence their actions. It was later claimed that Hoover used this incriminating material to make Hoover used this incriminating material to make sure that the eight presidents that he served sure that the eight presidents that he served under, would be too frightened to sack him as under, would be too frightened to sack him as director of the FBI..“director of the FBI..“

Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson each considered firing Hoover but Lyndon Johnson each considered firing Hoover but concluded that the political cost of doing so would concluded that the political cost of doing so would be too great. Richard Nixon twice called in Hoover be too great. Richard Nixon twice called in Hoover with the intent of firing him, but both times he with the intent of firing him, but both times he changed his mind when meeting with Hoover.changed his mind when meeting with Hoover.

Head of the FBIHead of the FBI Hoover ignored the existence of organized crime Hoover ignored the existence of organized crime

in the U.S. until famed muckraker Jack Anderson in the U.S. until famed muckraker Jack Anderson exposed the immense scope of the Mafia's exposed the immense scope of the Mafia's organized crime network. It has been suggested organized crime network. It has been suggested that Hoover did not pursue the Mafia because that Hoover did not pursue the Mafia because they had incriminating evidence (photos) against they had incriminating evidence (photos) against him in respect to his sexual orientation.him in respect to his sexual orientation.

Despite all of these allegations, during his long Despite all of these allegations, during his long career of public service, Director Hoover career of public service, Director Hoover received three presidential awards, sundry received three presidential awards, sundry citations by Congress, and following his death citations by Congress, and following his death was the first civil servant in U.S. history to lie in was the first civil servant in U.S. history to lie in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

Political ViewsPolitical Views

ConservativeConservative Anti-communistAnti-communist Against suffrage for womenAgainst suffrage for women Opposed the Civil Rights movementOpposed the Civil Rights movement

Major Issues of the TimeMajor Issues of the Time

11stst Red Scare (1917-1920) Red Scare (1917-1920) Espionage Act of 1917Espionage Act of 1917 Sedition Act of 1918Sedition Act of 1918 The Palmer RaidsThe Palmer Raids House Committee on Un-American House Committee on Un-American

ActivitiesActivities WW IIWW II Iron Curtain in EuropeIron Curtain in Europe

"Uncle Sam bids good riddance"Uncle Sam bids good riddanceto the deportees"to the deportees"

(from J. Edgar Hoover's(from J. Edgar Hoover'smemorabilia and scrapbookmemorabilia and scrapbookin the National Archives).in the National Archives).

The more famous The more famous of the Palmer raids of the Palmer raids was December 21, was December 21, in which 249 in which 249 people were people were dragged from their dragged from their homes, forcibly put homes, forcibly put on board a ship on board a ship and deported. and deported.

Intended AudienceIntended Audience

Hoover delivered “The Communist Hoover delivered “The Communist Menace” before the House Menace” before the House Committee on Un-American Committee on Un-American Activities on March 26, 1947.Activities on March 26, 1947.

The Communist MenaceThe Communist MenaceMain PointsMain Points

1. The Communist Party of the United 1. The Communist Party of the United States intends to destroy the States intends to destroy the American businessman, take over our American businessman, take over our government, and throw the whole government, and throw the whole world into revolution.world into revolution.

““The Communist movement in the The Communist movement in the United States…stands for the destruction United States…stands for the destruction of free enterprise, and it stands for the of free enterprise, and it stands for the creation of a “Soviet of the United creation of a “Soviet of the United States” and ultimate world revolution.”States” and ultimate world revolution.”

The Communist MenaceThe Communist MenaceMain PointsMain Points continued… continued…

2. The American programs to help society 2. The American programs to help society such as, social security, veterans’ such as, social security, veterans’ benefits, and welfare are all communist benefits, and welfare are all communist ideas used to lure the support of ideas used to lure the support of unsuspecting citizens.unsuspecting citizens.

““The American progress which all good The American progress which all good citizens seek, such as old-age security, citizens seek, such as old-age security, houses for veterans, child assistance and a houses for veterans, child assistance and a host of others is being adopted as window host of others is being adopted as window dressing by the Communists to conceal their dressing by the Communists to conceal their true aims and entrap gullible followers.”true aims and entrap gullible followers.”

The Communist MenaceThe Communist MenaceMain PointsMain Points continued… continued…

3. The greatest threat of communism is not how many Communists 3. The greatest threat of communism is not how many Communists are in this country, but their ability to insert themselves into are in this country, but their ability to insert themselves into positions of power and their ability to persuade through lies positions of power and their ability to persuade through lies and deception. Americans should FEAR the communist and deception. Americans should FEAR the communist infiltration of their government and society.infiltration of their government and society.

““What is important is the claim of the Communists What is important is the claim of the Communists themselves that for every party member there are 10 others themselves that for every party member there are 10 others ready, willing, and able to do the party’s work. Herein lies ready, willing, and able to do the party’s work. Herein lies the greatest menace of communism. For these people who the greatest menace of communism. For these people who infiltrate and corrupt various spheres of American life. So infiltrate and corrupt various spheres of American life. So rather than the size of the Communist Party the way to rather than the size of the Communist Party the way to weigh its true importance is by testing its influence, its weigh its true importance is by testing its influence, its ability to infiltrate.”ability to infiltrate.”

“…“…When the Communists overthrew the Russian When the Communists overthrew the Russian government there was one Communist for every 2,277 government there was one Communist for every 2,277 persons in Russia. In the United States today there is one persons in Russia. In the United States today there is one Communist for every 1,814 persons in the country…”Communist for every 1,814 persons in the country…”

Historical SignificanceHistorical Significance 22ndnd Red Scare (1947-1957) Red Scare (1947-1957) 1947 - Ronald Reagan and wife Jane Wyman provide to the 1947 - Ronald Reagan and wife Jane Wyman provide to the

FBI names of SAG members believed to be communist FBI names of SAG members believed to be communist sympathizers.sympathizers.

1947 - Top Hollywood executives decide not to employ 1947 - Top Hollywood executives decide not to employ individuals who refused to answer questions about individuals who refused to answer questions about communist infiltration of the film industrycommunist infiltration of the film industry

McCarthyism starts(1950McCarthyism starts(1950)): Sen. Joseph P. McCarthy says : Sen. Joseph P. McCarthy says he has a list of 205 communists in the State Department.he has a list of 205 communists in the State Department.

1950 - California Legislature passes a bill requiring state 1950 - California Legislature passes a bill requiring state employees to sign a loyalty oath. employees to sign a loyalty oath.

1953 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of conspiring 1953 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of conspiring to commit espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union, are to commit espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union, are executed. executed.

COINTELPRO COINTELPRO

COINTELPROCOINTELPRO

COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) is a COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) is a program of the United States Federal Bureau of program of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at investigating and disrupting Investigation aimed at investigating and disrupting dissident political organizations within the United States. dissident political organizations within the United States. Although covert operations have been employed Although covert operations have been employed throughout FBI history, the formal COINTELPRO throughout FBI history, the formal COINTELPRO operations of 1956-1971 were broadly targeted against operations of 1956-1971 were broadly targeted against organizations that were (at the time) considered to have organizations that were (at the time) considered to have politically radical elements, ranging from those whose politically radical elements, ranging from those whose stated goal was the violent overthrow of the U.S. stated goal was the violent overthrow of the U.S. government (such as the Weathermen) to non-violent civil government (such as the Weathermen) to non-violent civil rights groups such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern rights groups such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference to violent racist and Christian Leadership Conference to violent racist and segregationist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the segregationist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. The founding document of American Nazi Party. The founding document of COINTELPRO directed FBI agents to "expose, disrupt, COINTELPRO directed FBI agents to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities of these movements and their leaders.of these movements and their leaders.

QuestionsQuestions

Was J. Edgar Hoover paranoid or Was J. Edgar Hoover paranoid or was communism a real threat in the was communism a real threat in the United States?United States?