Analyzing Edgar Hoover's Communist Movement

John Edgar Hoover
1895-1972
Background
Born on New Years Day 1895 in Washington DC
Parents Anne Marie and Dickerson Naylor Hoover Snr
“Mother was the dominant influence in his life” Phillips
His birth certificate was not filed until he was 43
Competed in debate team (against women voting and the abolition of death penalty)
Nicknamed speed (stutter) and was applauded by his cool and relentless logic
Father suffered from mental illness and was institutionalised
“Instead of sympathising…wasn’t kind o his father…couldn’t bear imperfection least of all in the humans around him especially those who he was closest too” Summers
Education
Bachelor of Laws from George Washington University Law School in 1916
Masters of Law in same university 1917
Early Work
When he was 18 he accepted his first job; an entry level position as messenger in the orders department in library of Congress
Interest lay in areas with access to immense amounts of information
“This job…trained me in the value of collating material. It gave e an excellent foundation for my work in the FBI where it has been necessary to collate information and evidence” J E. Hoover
Clerk at Justice Department
July 1917 Hoover joined Justice Department as a clerk on legal staff
1917 Wilson had given the Justice Department authorisation to apprehend and detain enemy aliens
Hoover exempt from conscription with job
Put in charge of gathering information of enemy aliens
By late 1917 with spreading of Marxism due to Russian Revolution Hoover began monitoring radicals and communists who supported Bolsheviks
Library job helped him in organizing information
“He made sure he was valuable to the people above him” Sue Rosenfeld

Character
Puritanical
“He was a tyrant about other things. There was still a strong streak of the puritan in him” Gentry
Importance of a good name
Concerned about good name (himself/DOJ)
“In Washington, during the Harding Administration, the DOJ had become known as the Department of Easy Virtue. After a time Hoover simply said he work for the government” Gentry
Dedicated professional
“Scrupulousness and loyalty to superiors” Theoharis and Cox
“Hoover gave every evidence of being a dedicated professional” Theoharis and Cox
“Hoover convinced Stone of the Bureau’s improved professionalism” Theoharis and Cox
Hoover’s Attitude To Work
Earned reputation on expert on enemy radicals
Long hours
Fastidious
Collected ‘ever growing files’
Obsessed by files and how to exploit them
“Hoover’s own genius was not in innovation but in recognising good ideas and finding ways to implement them” Theoharis and Cox

Rise To Power Under Attorney Generals
A. Mitchell Palmer 1919-1921
Hoover appointed as special assistant to Attorney General
General A Mitchell Palmer instructed hoover to establish the General intelligence Division
Aimed to crack down on the growing momentum of US radicals, socialists and communists arising from Russian revolution
Known as ‘radical division’
Core of anti communist crusades
Collected incrimination information
June 2nd 1919
Anarchists mailed explosives to 36 prominent business magnates following may day riots
These were successful across 12 cities including Palmer’s home
In response the Department of Justice decided on a massive round up of foreigners (32 cities)
Hoover the Bureau of Investigation’s resident expert on aliens was put in charge
Hoover was given carte blanche by Palmer to bring the bombers to justice and round up all radicals
Hoover used his filing skills to record info, including hearsay, rumour and fact on individuals on 450 000 index cards
By October 1919 he had collected 60,000 names of people who allegedly radical and potentially dangerous organisations
“He helped develop a card system on individuals and organisations and collected this information to scientifically study people who are radicals” Rosenfeld
7th November 1919 was chosen date for nationwide raids
After arresting thousands of suspects, 249 radicals sent to Ellis Island for processing
Deportees included 51 anarchists, 184 members of FOURW and 14 aliens
Hoover and boss saw it as a resounding success for justice
Department of justice handed 3000 blank warrants
2nd January 1920
Further raids took place and agents under Hoover’s supervision entered homes and organisations
Arrested over 10,000 people over 33 cities
Raids saw many innocent people being treated terribly by agents (beaten, deprived of food, contained in horrible cells, forced false confessions)
Public outcry
“Lawless acts of a mob” senate condemned
“FBI had no place in immigration matters “ Theoharis
Hoover “wrote himself out” Rosenfeld “Hoovers files were very self protective as much as they are possible tools for aggression” Claire Potter
Harry M. Daugherty 1921-1924
“He made himself indispensible to the new attorney general” Gentry
Had established congressional base of his own
Hoover flooded Daugherty with memos and intelligence on radical activities internationally and nationally
Transferred from the GID to the assistant to Burns
On 22nd August 1921 the new director of the Bureau William J. Burns appointed Hoover assistant chief and in charge of 346 investigators
Harlan Fiske Stone 1924-1925
Herbert Hoover recommended hiring Edgar to run BI
Stone dissolved GID and prohibited Bureau wire tapping
“The activities of the bureau are to be limited strictly to investigations of violations of law” Stone
Stone wanted to reduce size of Bureau by hiring more professional agents
“Unlike Daugherty and Burns, Hoover gave every evidence of being a dedicated professional, which point had been repeatedly emphasised by Stone” Theoharis
December 1924  Stone ended his prohibition and appointed him permanent director
“A man of exceptional intelligence, alertness and executive ability” Stone

Why Hoover Remained in Power
He belonged to no political party (never voted)
He demonstrated loyalty to superiors
He was highly qualified for his role

Director of the Bureau
Reshaping
Hoover accept job with certain conditions:
Bureau divorced from politics
Promotions only based on ability (not seniority or nepotism)
Bureau was only responsible to attorney general
“He came to an agency known for its apathy and corruption and transformed it into the most sophisticated and best know investigatory agency in the world” Phillips
Hoover instructed by Stone for the Bureau to only investigate violations of federal law and to reduce staff by firing incompetents and only lire people with legal or accounting backgrounds
“[Stone was] impressed by Hoover’s industriousness and success in recruiting higher quality agents and imposing more rigorous standards of performance” Theoharis
Hoover imposed discipline and accountability through chain of command
Divided country in 53 unequal parts with office in each with special agent in charge (SAC)
To ensure compliance and Inspection Division was created
Hoover created standardisation of work practices
Printed form for interview reports
Dress code similar for all agents
Agents became interchangeable
Follow of rules and instructions of Hoover’s Manual of Investigations
Hoover modernised
National registry of finger prints
Training course for new agents (assisted with public image which was at all time low in 1924)
In 1932 he opened the Bureaus first crime lab
Extensive filing system was used
New powers 1934
Congress passed 9 crime bills
Bank robbery, transportation of stolen goods, racketeering and flight of felons was now under federal jurisdiction
Agents could carry guns and make arrests
Kidnapping made Federal Offence after Lindbergh case

1933-34 Crime Wave
Frank Nash
Known as most successful bank robber in USA during 20’s
On 17th of June 1933 he was murdered along with 4 law enforcement agents in a gangs attempt to free him from his prisoner status
Union Station, Kansas City Massacre
George “Machine Gun” Kelly
Gangster in prohibition era
Nicknamed for favourite weapon
Most famous crime was kidnapping businessman oil tycoon Urschel in July 1933 and getting $200000 ransom
Urschel and Kelly both left considerable evidence for FBI investigation and he was arrested in Memphis on 26th September 1933
John Dillinger
Bank robber during depression era
His gang robbed 24 banks and 4 police stations
Escaped from jail twice
Charged but not convicted with murder of Indiana police officer
Eventually shot by Purvis’ men and Purvis received mass amounts of publicity for this angering Hoover who eventually made him resign
Charles “pretty boy” Floyd
Bank robber
His criminal exploits gained a lot of media coverage in 1930s
Killed by policeman
Part of Kansas City Massacre
Bonnie and Clyde
Outlaws and bank robbers during depression era with their gang
Their exploits caught attention of public
About a dozen bank robberies but Clyde preferred smaller stores and petrol stations
Gang killed police officers and several civilians
Ambushed and killed by police officer in 1934
Creepy Karpis
Alvin Karpis was part of Karpis-Barker gang
The gang were one of most notorious during the 1930s
Killed anyone who got in their way even innocent bystanders
Spent 26 years in Alcatraz Prison
Ma Barker
Mother of several criminals in barker gang
Was killed in shoot out with FBI
Hoover described her as “the most vicious, dangerous and resourceful criminal brain of the last decade”
Lindbergh Case
20 month old toddler of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from home in East Amwell New Jersey on 1st of March 1932
Over 2 months later his body was found near the home
Bruno Hauptmann was charged in 1935 and claimed innocence but was sentenced to death by electric chair
BI used their lab to compare ransom notes with Hauptmann’s handwriting
BI conducted illegal searches on Hauptmann’s home
Used this case as example of their successes in modern scientific policing
FBI Response
“The whole of the FBI’s main thrust was not investigation but public relations and propaganda to glorify its director” Sullivan
Hoover chose to systematically eliminate the glorified gangsters who were defaming the government and its laws
During the crime wave the public bean to understand the greater need for federal law enforcement to deal with localised crime issues
This led to further acts becoming federal offences (see rising power)

Hoover In The Media
A comic strip depicting Hoover was sanctioned by him, it reflected his venture into popular culture and the shift in the publics perception of federal police work
Public becoming increasingly interested in Hoover’s private life (eating habits and home life)
Hollywood interpreted Hoover in gangster film in 1935 and his FBI agents were known as government men or G-men
65 movies in 1935 made positive reference to FBI
All these movies, comics and radio from time demonstrated the US societies acceptance of the growing role of FBI and its positive role in shaping society
Projected them as the good guys
Reporters hyped up their image in praising articles
Walter Trohan  spread writing with elements of high conspiracy in FBI and wrote particularly about incompetence and negative aspects of Hoover and Bureau

Role Of FBI During WWII
Roosevelt
Chosen attorney general was Homer Cummings
Cummings published a public enemies list that directed against crime wave
Hoover left to own devices since Cummings didn’t
FBI under attack from conservatives  FBI associated with new deal and growing power of federal governments
Investigated American Nazis and right-wing critics
“Hoover now welcomed Roosevelt’s initiative as providing formal presidential authorisation for radical investigations” Theoharis
“FBI expanded tremendously in authority, jurisdiction and size during FDRs first 2 administrations” Gentry
In 1936 FDR instructed Hoover to keep him informed of all fascist and communists in USA (subversive activities)
FDR wanted Hoover to discreetly provide this information
Hoover used this to increase his survaillence and his ‘Custodial Detention List’  people who should be rounded up in event of war
By 1939 Hoover revived his General Intelligence Division
Hoover established a school to train linguists
Secret intelligence Service
Created in 1940
Collected information about German espionage activities in central and south America
Censorship
FDR temporarily put Hoover in charge of censorship in 1941
Arranged to have all mail open from certain individuals
Filed information for personal use (without president or attorney general knowing)
The OSS and Donovan
William Donovan appointed by FDR to head the Office of Coordinator of Information (later named the Office of Strategic Services (OSS))
Granted the power to gather information from overseas
OSS reported directly to Roosevelt
Hoover saw Donovan as threat to power so launched investigation in attempt to discredit him
Hoover wanted to expand FBI jurisdiction to be the only US intelligence agency in world
Hoover lobbied for OSS to be disbanded after war
FDR wanted FBI and British Intelligence to have close relationship but Hoover found the British to support Donovan
OSS eventually wound down but FBI didn’t get to expand into foreign intelligence
Other
Within 72 hours of Pearl Harbour attack in December 1941 the FBI arrested 4000 Japanese, German and Italian aliens
Mass internment of more then 70,000 Japanese American citizens
“The war helped his reputation as America’s ‘watchdog’ – always alert and on guard” Dennet and Dixon

Post War
“Hoover was more powerful than tan the presidents he served” Painter
Harry S Truman 1945-1953 (D)
Didn’t have good relationship
Truman didn’t want personal contact, only though attorney general or aide
Truman fired Donovan and abolished OSS
Consequently Hoover suggested expanding FBI overseas (Truman had no intention of this)
Truman tried to cut back the FBI budget in 1946 and limit power
White House leak
Someone in white house leaked information to press about talks between Harry Hopkins and Stalin
Truman turned to Hoover to discover culprit
FBI set up series of wire taps
Republican party had control of congress
Truman barred congressmen from FBI files
Hoover ignored ban and leaked information to congressmen who wanted to advance anti-communist cause (information acquired illegally)
Communism and Spies
“Make America a great and decent place to live in” Hoover
Hoover wanted to show dangers of communism and that Truman wasn’t equipped
“Communism in reality is not a political party, it is a way of life, an evil and malignant way of life” Hoover
Hoover convinced there was a communist conspiracy to overthrow government
Senator McCarthy
Accused some of the most influential Americans of being communists
“if there is one communist in the state department, that’s one too many” McCarthy
McCarthy used Hoover as a source of information to support accusations
Hoover used McCarthy as tool to advance his regressive agenda
McCarthy was getting out of control  began to criticize Eisenhower for being to soft on communists
McCarthy revealed letter from Hoover (after he promised he wouldn’t)
Letter claimed there were communists in army
Hoover denied sending the letter
Hoover ended McCarthy’s career whilst preserving own
In 1954 Hoover complained to president that McCarthy was impending the FBIs investigations of communists  Hoover cut McCarthy off from any FBI
support
McCarthy fell quickly and the senate voted to sanction him
“Hoover didn’t like him, because McCarthy had supplanted the FBI director as the nations chief enemy of communism” DeLoach
Dwight D Eisenhower 1953-1961 (R)
Good relationship
“He gave Hoover anything he could have wanted” Powers
Hoover sided with Eisenhower (5 star general in oval office) when McCarthy was hunting out communists in army
Mafia
Denied existence of crime organisation claiming they were disconnected groups which local police could deal with
Mafia involved in gambling and horse racing which Hoover partook in
It is believed his denial stemmed from mobsters (Costello) who gave him tips on fixed races
“No one would ever know how many raced I had to fix for that bastard” Frank Costello
“Hoover was in our pocket, he was not someone we needed to fear” Carmine Lombardozzi
COINTELPRO
Counter intelligence program established 1956
Aim to infiltrate and disrupt activities of communist party in US
Series of covert and often illegal projects conducted by FBI
85% of COINTELPRO resources were used on infiltrating and disrupting suspected subversive groups
Other 15% used on marginalising white hate groups
Directives issued by Hoover
Methods used: infiltration, psychological warfare, harassment, extra-legal force, illegal surveillance
John F Kennedy 1961-1963 (D)
Kennedy reappoints Hoover as director
Good relationship with Kennedy (long term relationship with father)
Robert Kennedy was new Attorney General (boss)
Tense relationship
Bobby wanted to fight organised crime
Hoover maintained there was no national crime syndicate
Clashed in view of Afro-Americans and civil rights
Assassination of JFK
Hoover called bobby to deliver news
There is evidence that FBI had information on both Oswald and Jack Ruby which they failed to pass on to secret service or Warren commission
Hoover ordered some key files in FBI Dallas office to be destroyed
LBJ asked Hoover to complete report
Lyndon B Johnson 1963-1969
LBJ waved compulsory retirement age for Hoover
“the nation cannot afford to lose you” LBJ
Hoover was extremely loyal to LBJ
FBI used to collect political information on LBJs enemies and to disrupt activities of any groups LBJ saw as threats
Hoovers inability to change with time was damaging FBI
Life magazine cover “emperor of FBI”
Social Unrest
“Civil rights movements grew under Johnson and Hoover saw it as a threat to the American way of life he knew and loved” Dennet and Dixon
“Hoover directed massive investigations of radical violence and he forestalled more violence by disrupting and destroying murderous Klans” Powers
Hoover used COINTELPRO to fight these
Martin Luther King
Hoover installed illegal wire taps and had king under surveillance (revealed king having an affair)
“King was the most notorious liar in the country” Hoover
As king rose in stature as a black leader, the FBI increased surveillance
“That’s when Hoover starts playing not law enforcement but manipulator of the societies proccessors” Blakely
Hoover initiated campaign to deter people from associating with King
Hoover forced to take case of assassination in 1968 (largest manhunt FBI history)
Richard M Nixon 1969-1974
“Nixon’s staff considered Hoover a tired old relic who lived entirely in the past” Bardsley
Series of leaks regarding North Vietnam  led to protests
Nixon asked Hoover to find source of leak and gave information of suspects
Radical student groups taken over university and set off bombs
FBI unable to control
Source of tension between hoover and Nixon
1971 a citizens commission of FBI broke in FBI office in Pennsylvania
Stole hundreds of documents of surveillance and wire tapping of suspect groups
Public outraged  senator Kennedy called for Hoover to resign
Hoover dismantled COINTELPRO and kept low profile
Nixon asked Hoover to resign but Hoover refused
Nixon froze out Hoover
Death
2nd of May 1972 (77)
White house immediately tried to find is private files
His secretary Helen Gandy (1918-1972) hid them in her office then his basement, then destroyed
Nixon delivered eulogy

Significance and Evaluation
FBI
BI instruction manual
Bureau chain for command
Personal efficiency records
Fingerprint registry 1924
“Centralisation of fingerprints, famed FBI laboratory, scientific analysis…branded him as the father of modern day law enforcement” DeLoach
Agent education 1928
Crime laboratory 1932
“Hoover gave America on of the world’s greatest law-enforcement organisations” Dennet and Dixon
“FBI internationally respected for its competence and efficiency” Painter
FBI & Hoover In Media
G-men
Newspapers
Magazines
Comics
Hollywood
Homosexuality?
Finding the “real” Hoover
Little known of real life
Hoover had few friends
Hoover ordered destruction of files
3 sets of files
Official and confidential  contained derogatory information on private lives of presidents, congressmen, senators, government employees and famous people (only ones left)
Personal and confidential
Bureau files
“The issue of whether or not Hoover and Tolson were intimate is not only superficial but a smokescreen to hide Hoover’s gross dereliction of duty and hostility to the ideals he was sworn to protect” Rosenberg
Evaluation
Super patriot
Portrayed himself as patriotic hero saving USA from gangsters, Nazis, communists, Klan
Took credit for making FBI internationally recognised
Questions of surveillance and deceit during dictatorship
“”Hoover reflected the assets and liabilities that flow from one person having so much power” Dennet and Dixon
The FBI Book – Max Lowenthal 1850
Exposes FBI activities
Includes claim Hoover was secretly aiding HUAC
Hoover attempted to prevent publication and denied claims
Had agents go to bookshops and ask not to sell
Got journalists to write unfavourable reviews
Commercial failure but useful for historians
Sensationalism
Journalists in early 70s claimed FBI was a kind of Gestapo
Hoover might have taken bribes from millionaires
Some claimed Hoover ignored warning from British about pearl harbour
“Hoover was a homosexual and a transvestites…was being blackmailed by the mafia” Summers
“He became a symbol of violations of civil liberties and hostilities to civil rights, and that is a tragedy because there was great potential in that man” Powers
“His legacy leaves a great deal to be proud of and a great deal to be ashamed of” Powers