John Edgar Hoover Research Paper

During the period of prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was made illegal, through the Volstead act of 1919, leading to the first and only time an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed. Throughout this time in American history gangsters were common and were constantly increasing in every city but one in particular stood out from all the others making a significant impact on American history. Scarface, Alphonse Capone or more commonly known as Al Capone; who was the most infamous gangster, taking advantage of the era of Prohibition, ran an organized crime association in Chicago during the 1920s. He was responsible for over 500 murders; he had 700 men under his control and earned $60 million a year for bootlegging. Capone, who was glamorised in media and shown as charitable to the helpless was also controlling and violent and became an iconic figure of the successful American gangster who insisted he was just ‘supplying the public demand’.

The decade of the 1930’s can be characterized in two parts: The Great Depression, and the restoration of the American economy. America had been completely destroyed due to the Stock Market Crash of 1929. It was up to the government and people of the 1930’s to "mend" America’s wounds. One man stood up to this challenge, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He promised to fix the American economy, provide jobs, and help the needy. During The Great Depression, the crime rate had risen to an all new high. J. Edgar Hoover helped to create the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As America was restored, culture grew quickly. Dance clubs, new music styles, glamour girls, movies and sports were all popular forms of entertainment in the

Since Capone was such a huge criminal, the law enforcement contributed to American society to find a way to stop Capone. “One group that was formed because of him was the Untouchables” (Bergreen). The FBI was also formed because of crime such as the Mafia. More and more police stations were built because of crime, and now today people have more protection because of all the different kinds of crime prevention agencies. If Capone and other criminals like him weren’t around at that time, law enforcement might not be were it is today. Capone is still seen as a common thug outside of Chicago from his organization.

When J. Edgar Hoover took over the Bureau in 1924, he inherited two female agents: Jessie B. Duckstein and Alaska P. Davidson, who both resigned within a few months as part of the Bureau’s reduction of force. In 1972, JoAnne Misko and Susan Malone were the first two women to enter the FBI Academy. In 1978, Special Agent Christine Karpoch (Jung) would become the first female firearms instructor—and she would shoot the coveted “possible,” a perfect score on the FBI’s Practical Pistol Range. In 1990, Special Agents Susan Sprengel and Helen Bachor were sent to London and Montevideo, Uruguay to serve as the FBI’s first female assistant legal attachés. In 2001, Special Agent Kathleen McChesney became the first woman

Imagine, a time when law enforcement agents could only watch a criminal walk away. A time when they were unable to return fire in a gunfight. A time when no means for tracking criminals existed. A time when a state line stood as impassible as a great wall for law enforcement. There was a time, when men created legends with their criminal exploits, by name of John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, Baby Face Nelson. They stood unopposed, taking what they wished on a whim. In 1924, a young man, years short of 30, was put in charge of an agency with no bite. By the end of his life, J. Edgar Hoover was the most powerful man in America, at the head of one of the most powerful organizations in America. He held more power than the very presidents of

James Polk was the 11th president of the United States, James Polk was 10 years when his parents crossed the Appalachian Mountains. James Polk was born November 2, 1795. James Polk

When the FBI was established, there weren't an abundance of federal crimes, so it investigated criminal acts that dealt with national banking, bankruptcy, naturalization, antitrust, peonage, and land fraud. In June of 1910, the FBI grew larger because the "Mann Act" (Made it a crime to transport women to

Due to the buzz of the programs started by the Black Panthers, J. Edgar Hoover who was head of the FBI, stated publicly that the Panthers are the "greatest threat to the internal security of the country".

At this point the Bureau was already starting to get organized under the Director John Edgar Hoover, who would soon make the agency a vital part of the national government in his 40 years of directing. (FBI GoV HIS) Hoover quickly transformed the FBI, and made the system highly professional. Prior to him directing, many agents had limited training and were undisciplined, knowledge in law was sufficient to become hired as an agent. Despite this, many agents were subject to corruption due to low pay and because times were hard during the 1920’s- the post war recession, and the rising prohibition era would create an increase in robberies, auto theft, and drug trafficking. However, Hoover was quick and thorough. He weeded out incompetent “political hacks” and laid out a strict code of conduct for agents to follow and formed the contemporary foundation of the federal agency. The hiring process now consisted of interviews, background checks, and a 2 month training program that included physical fitness, defensive tactics, shooting, and further instruction on investigation. Hoover also established the finger print

During the 1920s, organised crime was a major issue plaguing federal authorities, as well as the American people. This took place in most big cities across the United States, particularly in Chicago, Illinois, where gangsters such as Al Capone, Bugs Moran and Johnny Torrio dominated all aspects of life. However, at this time, authorities also faced problems from the government through corruption and scandalous actions.

During the early 1930s, the world was at a turning point from all areas. The Great War had taken the lives of many young men demonstrating how important life was, while the roaring twenties saw men and women waste their lives away from all the parties and social interaction. During this time, many would rise and fall throughout the political world, ultimately leading to the rise of the Great Depression and the ultimate economic downturn to occur within all of history. Many would come to try their best at retraining the United States into its powerful nation. However, only one man would be able to develop a plan that would not only bring the United States out of the upcoming world events and leave a legacy both within the United States and

Criminal activity during the 1920s played a major role throughout the entirety of the decade, as it related to the newfound culture the Roaring Twenties entailed. As the nation strove to achieve the American Dream, parties, money and social representation became a main contribute to an individual’s persona. As these factors were sought to be obtained, many criminal engagements were enacted. These crimes included but were not limited to, bootlegging, organized crime, scandals and murder, which were set by the infamous Al Capone and the Mafia, with contribution to the corruption of the FBI, the KKK and their racial and religious prejudice, Leopold and Loeb, and Warren G. Harding, in relation to the Teapot Dome Scandal. All of these acts are relative to modern society as they paved way for greater emphasis on civil and political issues in the following decades, as society began to regard national security and pushed toward a movement to enact stricter laws and regulations towards individual matters.

Former Senator Joseph McCarthy put it perfectly when he said, “… for the FBI is J. Edgar Hoover and I think we can rest assured that it will always be.” (qtd. in Denenberg 7). J. Edgar Hoover is credited for reconstructing the Bureau of Investigations (later renamed Federal Bureau of Investigations). Regardless of how people saw him, Hoover was powerful and committed, and did everything within his power to improve the agency that would make this country a safer place for all.

Larry Hoover was born on November 30th, 1950 in Jackson Mississippi, but moved to Chicago at the age four years old. When Larry was 12 years old he became the leader of the “Chicago Supreme Gangsters.” Which is now known as the “Gangster Disciple Nations.” As the years went by Hoover became the well known leader of the gang and occasionally engaged in petty crimes. He eventually got evolved in shootings and assaults. In 1973, Larry Hoover was sentenced to 150-200 years in prison for killing a drug dealer. Later on in his passed years in prison he committed money laundering in prison , and his punishment was increased to six life sentences.

Hoover was born in a Quaker community, which he later left at the age of nine since his parents died. His father died first at the age of 34, in 1880, the cause was pneumonia and heart failure. And Hoover’s mother died died in 1884 of typhoid fever