Changes

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>

Conservatives admired Hoover for his use of modern scientific methods to stop crime and upgrade the technical skills of police departments across the nation. Due to his tireless efforts during the Cold War to stop domestic terrorism, American Communism never recovered as a political or social movement. Hoover became an American icon as the man who created and led the FBI for a half century of depression, world war and cold war. He prospered so long through fierce determination, self-confidence, close attention to details, a gift for public relations and an ability to convey his vision of [[Republicanism|American values]] regarding patriotism, civic duty, fighting corruption, and strengthening the home, school, church and traditional moral values.

[[Conservatives]] admired Hoover for his use of modern scientific methods to stop crime and upgrade the technical skills of police departments across the nation. Due to his tireless efforts during the Cold War to stop domestic terrorism, American Communism never recovered as a political or social movement. Hoover became an American icon as the man who created and led the FBI for a half century of depression, world war and cold war. He prospered so long through fierce determination, self-confidence, close attention to details, a gift for public relations and an ability to convey his vision of [[Republicanism|American values]] regarding patriotism, civic duty, fighting corruption, and strengthening the home, school, church and traditional moral values.

==Career==

==Career==

John Edgar Hoover was born in Washington to well-educated minor government officials. He graduated from public schools, and, skipping college, earned law degrees at night from George Washington University in 1916 and 1917. He was a lifelong Presbyterian, but always worked well with Catholics and Jews.  In 1917 he went to work for the Department of Justice (DOJ), which expressed the prevailing [[Progressive Era]] emphasis on [[Efficiency|scientific efficiency]] and professionalism.  Hoover promoted this philosophy throughout his career, As an administrator of alien enemy matters, he dealt with detention or parole for citizens of Germans and Austria who violated the World War I Alien Enemy Act.  

John Edgar Hoover was born in [[Washington, D.C.]] to well-educated, low-ranking government officials. He graduated from [[public school]]s, and, skipping college, earned law degrees at night from George Washington University in 1916 and 1917. He was a lifelong Presbyterian, but always worked well with Catholics and Jews.  In 1917 he went to work for the [[Department of Justice]] (DOJ), which expressed the prevailing [[Progressive Era]] emphasis on [[Efficiency|scientific efficiency]] and professionalism.  Hoover promoted this philosophy throughout his career, As an administrator of alien enemy matters, he dealt with detention or parole for citizens of Germans and Austria who violated the World War I Alien Enemy Act.  

After the war, he moved up to assistant to Attorney General [[A. Mitchell Palmer]], a liberal Democrat. Hoover became effective head of the General Intelligence Division, where he worked with state and local offiicals to collected information on radicals.  Hoover and his staff compiled data (using index cards) on 450,000 potential radical aliens by 1921. He orchestrated the federal arrests of 6000 radicals who sought to overthrow the government, and deported 250 of the most dangerous aliens, most notably anarchist [[Emma Goldman]].<ref>She had tried to murder a leading industrialist, but the pistol used by her accomplice missed the target.</ref> In 1919 Hoover led what are called the "Palmer Raids;" it is more accurate to call them the "Hoover Raids."

After the war, he moved up to assistant to Attorney General [[A. Mitchell Palmer]], a liberal Democrat. Hoover became effective head of the General Intelligence Division, where he worked with state and local officials to collected information on radicals.  Hoover and his staff compiled data (using index cards) on 450,000 potential radical aliens by 1921. He orchestrated the federal arrests of 6000 radicals who sought to overthrow the government, and deported 250 of the most dangerous aliens, most notably anarchist [[Emma Goldman]].<ref>She had tried to murder a leading industrialist, but the pistol used by her accomplice missed the target.</ref> In 1919 Hoover led what are called the "Palmer Raids;" it is more accurate to call them the "Hoover Raids."

Reviewing radical pamphlets calling for a violent overthrow of the U.S. government convinced him that Communists posed a significant danger to [[republicanism|American values]]. He agreed with the Congress and courts that held that aliens seeking the overthrow of the government can be deported, and put it into action.  

Reviewing radical pamphlets calling for a violent overthrow of the U.S. government convinced him that Communists posed a significant danger to [[republicanism|American values]]. He agreed with the Congress and courts that held that aliens seeking the overthrow of the government can be deported, and put it into action.