The regrettable thing about this book is that it is convincing. This is a detailed and annotated look at Hoover and the FBI during the Hoover years, and the picture that it paints is not a pretty one. It is, however, a convincing one. For many decades J. Edgar Hoover exercised complete control over the FBI. There was virtually no effective Congressional oversight over Hoover, the FBI, or their activities. During these decades Hoover worked tirelessly and effectively to expand and enlarge the size and power of the FBI. This occurred such that the FBI came to exercise an unwholesome and yes, disturbing degree of power over American citizens. The FBI bugged and wiretapped with virtually no reference to the Constitution and targeted enemies not so much based upon national danger as upon Hoover's quirks and eccentricities. Thus, for decades the FBI was oblivious to what everyone else in America knew: that syndicated crime (the "Mafia") was a big and malevolent problem in American life. The FBI declined for a long time to protect civil rights workers and instead tacitly sided with KKK extremists. (Happily, both of these failures have been corrected, but no thanks to Hoover.) Because Hoover hated the CIA, the FBI broke off liaison with the CIA and other intelligence agencies thereby crippling America's ability to confront the Soviet KGB and other legitimate threats to national security. While insiders including some FBI agents noted that this was not a "rational" act, it happened and for a long time no one did anything about it. Such was Hoover's power to act arbitrarily with his potential critics cowed and fearful of his terrible ability to retaliate against real or perceived enemies. And no one in government was easier to make an enemy of than Hoover.
Presidents feared Hoover and no Congressman or Senator cared or dared to take him on. There was no upside in it. Everyone knew that Hoover had compiled dossiers on tens of thousands of American citizens, especially its democratically elected officials. And the FBI was fantastically willing to leak embarrassing dirt on Hoover's enemies. Countless politicians who crossed Hoover, and many who did not, were destroyed by such FBI leaks. Many in the press acted in concert with Hoover and published these leaks in exchange for receiving such exclusives from the FBI. None of this was either Constitutional or good government. Presidents, attorney generals, and Congressmen and Senators came and went, but Hoover stayed in place, growing his power with each decade. This was not a good thing.
This piece also details that Hoover himself was corrupt. Each year he took a three week "nonvacation" at public expense in Florida, living the high life with his "companion," Deputy FBI Director Clyde Tolson. FBI agents were employed to ghostwrite several books ostensibly written by Hoover from which he personally profited. No one dared look into any of this.
This is a useful and important book because it illustrates the fact that the Government can and does ignore the Constitution in a big way when governmental processes go awry. In Hoover's FBI we had one man work his way into a position in which he was able to thwart the usual checks and balances in the American governmental system to the nation's infinite harm. There is much evidence that the FBI has reformed and is now more of a "normal" governmental agency. Many readers will never view the FBI in quite the same way after reading this piece. By the way, this is a very well-written piece that is very readable. Recommended. RJB.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Frequently bought together
This item: J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets
$18.31
Get it Sep 4 - 6
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
+
$16.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 31
In Stock
+
$12.80
Get it as soon as Saturday, Aug 31
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Related products with free delivery on eligible orders
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Sponsored | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping
Reviews with images
Interesting comparisons well index - documented
Interesting comparisons of well documented thoughts vs the myths and rumour, and things that go bump in the whatever.. Sure makes you wonder and so many of the innuendos and slurs also seemed well documented along with the other peccadilloes at the time of hearing....J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets
Top reviews from other countries
Jim Frizzle
A most interesting and revealing book
Reviewed in Canada on May 13, 2017
Michael Skidmore
The J Edgar Hoover story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2010Werner Schneider
Die USA waren nie das "Land of the Free"
Reviewed in Germany on January 14, 2009
