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J. Edgar Hoover

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J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover in September 1961
1st Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
In office
March 22, 1935 – May 2, 1972
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Harry S. Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
DeputyClyde Tolson
Preceded byOffice created (was BOI director)
Succeeded byL. Patrick Gray (Acting)
6th Director of the Bureau of Investigation
In office
May 10, 1924 – March 22, 1935
PresidentCalvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byWilliam J. Burns
Succeeded byHimself (as FBI Director)
Personal details
Born
John Edgar Hoover

(1895-01-01)January 1, 1895
Washington, D.C.
United States
DiedMay 2, 1972(1972-05-02) (aged 77)
Washington, D.C.
United States
Alma materGeorge Washington University
Signature

John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 – May 2, 1972) was an American government official. He was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. He was chosen as director of the Bureau of Investigation because he helped start it. He was the director until his death in 1972 at age 77.

According to President Harry S Truman, Hoover transformed the FBI into his private secret police force. Truman stated that "we want no Gestapo or secret police. FBI is tending in that direction. They are dabbling in sex-life scandals and plain blackmail. J. Edgar Hoover would give his right eye to take over, and all congressmen and senators are afraid of him".[1]

Hoover had the largest collection of pornography in history.[2] Some adult movies included photos of Joan Crawford, Frank Sinatra, Warren Beatty, and Tony Curtis.[2]

Hoover was born on January 1, 1895 in Washington, D.C.[3] He studied at George Washington University. Many say Hoover was homosexual but he never admitted it.[4][5]

It is unknown if Hoover and his second-in-command Clyde Tolson were ever in a relationship. Hoover died on May 2, 1972 in Washington, D.C. from heart failure, aged 77.[6]

Early Life

J. Edgar Hoover was born on New Year's Day in Washington, DC. His parents were Dickerson Naylor Hoover (1856-1921) and Anna "Annie" (née Scheitlin) Hoover. Dickerson Hoover's family was English and German. Annie Hoover's family was Swiss. J. Edgar Hoover was the youngest of four children.[7] He never had a birth certificate until he was 43, even though Washington, D.C. required them.[8] His childhood home was near Seward Square. The house no longer exists because a United Methodist church was built there. However, there is a stained glass window in the church that honors him.[7]

References

  1. Anthony Summers, "The secret life of J Edgar Hoover, The Guardian, Sunday January 1 2012
  2. 2.0 2.1 Revealed: J Edgar's secret porn stash
  3. ""J. Edgar Hoover", Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia". Microsoft Corporation. 2008. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "J. Edgar Hoover: Gay marriage role model?". Salon. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2008.
  5. 'Gay' Probe of LBJ Aide Archived 2009-04-17 at the Wayback Machine by Washington Associated Press at NY Post newspaper February 20, 2009
  6. Graham, Fred P. (May 3, 1972). "J. Edgar Hoover, 77, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Gage, Beverly (2022). G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century. Viking Press. ISBN 9780670025374.
  8. Hoover had 7 Children Spannaus, Edward (August 2000). "The Mysterious Origins of J. Edgar Hoover". American Almanac.

Other websites

Quotations related to J. Edgar Hoover at Wikiquote
Media related to J. Edgar Hoover at Wikimedia Commons