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A review by teriboop
G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Drawing on newly released FBI files, diaries, scrapbook collections, and a wealth of archival resources, Historian Beverly Gage covers the entire life of J. Edgar Hoover, founder and head G-Man of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Born on January 1, 1895, Hoover ingrained himself into the Washington, D. C. political scene soon after his graduation from George Washington Law School in 1916. In college, Hoover was a key member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, a social organization known as Confederate and Southern nationalist sympathizers. This organization likely shaped much of Hoover's ideology on race relations and politics. Upon his graduation from law school, Hoover worked in the War Emergency Division and the Bureau of Investigations, the precursors to the FBI, which he headed as director in 1924. During his long career, Hoover shaped and molded the FBI through the course of 6 presidents, three of which were Republican and three Democrats. His services ended upon his death in 1972 at age 77, working beyond the typical retirement age for government workers.
Hoover was equally liked and hated in and out of Washington. He campaigned against communism (the Red Scare), the KKK, organized crime, and alleged militant Civil Rights activists. He was tasked with investigating homosexuals in government (the Lavender Scare) but mostly swept it under the rug to avoid outing himself. Gage uncovers a host of personal tragedies and secrets involving his family and his long-time relationship with fellow G-Man, Clyde Tolson. Hoover uncovered and policed the criminal and political issues that were relevant and important to him and those close to him while brushing over the issues that could negatively affect him and his career.
He had a tumultuous relationship with Presidents Truman and Kennedy but was in the back pockets of Johnson and Nixon. It is worth pondering, after reading this thoroughly researched book, how Watergate might have turned out if Hoover had still been alive and working within the Bureau. The Bureau and Hoover were synonymous entities for good and bad, and Gage uncovers it all. This is an engrossing biography of the G-Man himself and is worthy of its 2023 Pulitzer Prize.
Hoover was equally liked and hated in and out of Washington. He campaigned against communism (the Red Scare), the KKK, organized crime, and alleged militant Civil Rights activists. He was tasked with investigating homosexuals in government (the Lavender Scare) but mostly swept it under the rug to avoid outing himself. Gage uncovers a host of personal tragedies and secrets involving his family and his long-time relationship with fellow G-Man, Clyde Tolson. Hoover uncovered and policed the criminal and political issues that were relevant and important to him and those close to him while brushing over the issues that could negatively affect him and his career.
He had a tumultuous relationship with Presidents Truman and Kennedy but was in the back pockets of Johnson and Nixon. It is worth pondering, after reading this thoroughly researched book, how Watergate might have turned out if Hoover had still been alive and working within the Bureau. The Bureau and Hoover were synonymous entities for good and bad, and Gage uncovers it all. This is an engrossing biography of the G-Man himself and is worthy of its 2023 Pulitzer Prize.