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'''J. Edgar Hoover''' (1895-1972) was the aggressive director of the [[FBI]] for a half century, 1924 to 1972. Besides fighting crime with modern methods, Hoover was a staunch opponent of [[Communism]], and his FBI became the chief agency for tracking down enemy espionage.

'''J. Edgar Hoover''' (1895-1972) was the aggressive director of the [[FBI]] for a half century, 1924 to 1972. Besides fighting crime with modern methods, Hoover was a staunch [[Anti-Communist|opponent of Communism]], and his FBI became the chief agency for tracking down enemy [[espionage]].

Hoover was a glamorous bachelor who dated Hollywood actresses and society figures and was often seen in public.  Hoover was demonized by liberals, upset by his linkage of Communism to revered liberal heroes like Martin Luther King; they falsely charged he was a cross-dresser and homosexual.<ref> As historian Stanley Coben concludes, "No persuasive evidence exists of a homosexual relationship, despite sensational gossip to the contrary." Stanley Coben, "J. Edgar Hoover," ''Journal of Social History'' v 34 #3 (2001) 703-706, quote on p. 703; in [[Project MUSE]]. Only one disreputable witness ever claimed Hoover was a cross-dresser; no friend or enemy in 50 years noticed this trait. Claire Bond Potter, "Queer Hoover: Sex, Lies, and Political History," ''Journal of the History of Sexuality'' v. 15 #3 (2006) 355-38 in [[Project MUSE]] shows the myth was invented by the left to discredit conservatives, and notes also that "the fall of Joseph McCarthy hinged on liberals' use of homosexual gossip."  Systematic refutation of the lie appears in the book by a harsh critic of Hoover, Alan Theoharis, ''J. Edgar Hoover, Sex and Crime: An Historical Antidote'' (1995).</ref>

Hoover was a glamorous bachelor who dated Hollywood actresses and society figures and was often seen in public.  Hoover was demonized by liberals, upset by his linkage of Communism to revered liberal heroes like Martin Luther King; they falsely charged he was a cross-dresser and homosexual.<ref> As historian Stanley Coben concludes, "No persuasive evidence exists of a homosexual relationship, despite sensational gossip to the contrary." Stanley Coben, "J. Edgar Hoover," ''Journal of Social History'' v 34 #3 (2001) 703-706, quote on p. 703; in [[Project MUSE]]. Only one disreputable witness ever claimed Hoover was a cross-dresser; no friend or enemy in 50 years noticed this trait. Claire Bond Potter, "Queer Hoover: Sex, Lies, and Political History," ''Journal of the History of Sexuality'' v. 15 #3 (2006) 355-38 in [[Project MUSE]] shows the myth was invented by the left to discredit conservatives, and notes also that "the fall of Joseph McCarthy hinged on liberals' use of homosexual gossip."  Systematic refutation of the lie appears in the book by a harsh critic of Hoover, Alan Theoharis, ''J. Edgar Hoover, Sex and Crime: An Historical Antidote'' (1995).</ref>

==FDR's domestic spying==

==FDR's domestic spying==

In 1934 President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] secretly directed Hoover to investigate and monitor the activities of American Nazis. Hoover provided information on the small numbers involved, most of whom were recent immigrants from Germany. Soon soon Roosevelt wanted reports on the prominent American conservatives who opposed his foreign policies.  FDR leaked reports to his political friends to use in attacking conservatives.  When the debate on intervention in World War II heated up in 1938, FDR had Hoover redouble his efforts, looking especially at the famous hero [[Charles Lindbergh]], long an opponent of Roosevelt. Hoover found no evidence linking any of the conservatives to Nazi Germany.<ref> Douglas M.  Charles and John P. Rossi, "FBI Political Surveillance and the Charles Lindbergh Investigation, 1939-1944," ''Historian'' 1997 59(4): 831-847 in [[EBSCO]]</ref> FDR's supporters nevertheless smeared the isolationists<ref>A practice known as "brown smearing," "brown baiting" and "right baiting." </ref> as friends of Hitler, fascism, totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, and even treason.  Echoes of the false allegations were repeated against conservatives for decades, even today.<ref> Wayne S. Cole, ''Roosevelt and the Isolationists, 1932-1945'' (1983) p. 530</ref><ref>Richard Gid Powers, ''Not Without Honor: The History of American Anti-Communism''. (New York: The Free Press, 1995) ,163, 294-295.</ref>

In 1934 President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] secretly directed Hoover to investigate and monitor the activities of American Nazis. Hoover provided information on the small numbers involved, most of whom were recent immigrants from Germany. Soon soon Roosevelt wanted reports on the prominent American conservatives who opposed his foreign policies.  FDR leaked reports to his political friends to use in attacking conservatives.  When the debate on intervention in World War II heated up in 1938, FDR had Hoover redouble his efforts, looking especially at the famous hero [[Charles Lindbergh]], long an opponent of Roosevelt. Hoover found no evidence linking any of the conservatives to Nazi Germany.<ref> Douglas M.  Charles and John P. Rossi, "FBI Political Surveillance and the Charles Lindbergh Investigation, 1939-1944," ''Historian'' 1997 59(4): 831-847 in [[EBSCO]]</ref> FDR's supporters nevertheless smeared the isolationists<ref>A practice known as "brown smearing," "brown baiting" and "right baiting." </ref> as friends of Hitler, fascism, totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, and even treason.  Echoes of the false allegations were repeated against conservatives for decades, even today.<ref> Wayne S. Cole, ''Roosevelt and the Isolationists, 1932-1945'' (1983) p. 530</ref><ref>Richard Gid Powers, ''Not Without Honor: The History of American [[Anti-Communism]]''. (New York: The Free Press, 1995) ,163, 294-295.</ref>

==Politics==

==Politics==

[[Category:Crime]]

[[Category:Crime]]

[[Category:1920s]]

[[Category:1920s]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[Category:New Deal]]

[[Category:1960s]]

[[Category:1960s]]

[[Category:Espionage]]

[[Category:Espionage]]