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J. Edgar Hoover, Sex, and Crime
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J. Edgar Hoover, Sex, and Crime Tight, sound, and square - 1995

by Athan Theoharis

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first

Description

Was J. Edgar Hoover a homosexual? And did organized-crime leaders, knowing this, blackmail the FBI director into leaving them alone? These charges won almost instant popular acceptance when they were aired in a sensational biography of Hoover in 1993. But Athan Theoharis, the foremost authority on Hoover and the FBI, here shows that the accusations are spurious―and not nearly as intriguing as Hoover's real attitudes toward sex and organized crime. Theoharis takes apart the argument for Hoover's homosexuality, then goes on to paint a chilling portrait of a moralistic bureaucrat who would not hesitate to use sex-related information against his political enemies―when it could not be traced to FBI investigations. Theoharis explains why the FBI's ineffectiveness in pursuing organized-crime leaders stemmed from the same political priorities that gave Hoover broad authority during the cold war years to use illegal investigative techniques and to focus on political activities. Punctuating his narrative with case materials from the FBI's secret files―on presidential candidates, senators, congressmen, artists and writers, college presidents, and others―Theoharis unravels the brilliantly devious means that Hoover used to accomplish his political ends. And he shows how they contributed to a culture of lawlessness within the FBI itself. Book: clean and unmarked DJ: NPC - very little shelfwear
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Details

  • Title J. Edgar Hoover, Sex, and Crime
  • Author Athan Theoharis
  • Binding tight, sound, and square
  • Edition First?
  • Condition Used - Very Good+
  • Pages 176
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Ivan R. Dee, Chicago
  • Date 1995-01
  • Bookseller's Inventory # 23edgar1995
  • ISBN 9781566630719 / 1566630711
  • Weight 0.81 lbs (0.37 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.37 x 5.97 x 0.82 in (21.26 x 15.16 x 2.08 cm)
  • Library of Congress subjects Hoover, J. Edgar, United States - Officials and employees -
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 94036630
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

From the rear cover

Was J. Edgar Hoover a homosexual? And did organized-crime leaders, knowing this, blackmail the FBI director into leaving them alone? These charges won almost instant popular acceptance when they were aired not long ago in a sensational biography of Hoover. But Athan Theoharis, our foremost authority on Hoover and the FBI, here shows that the accusations are spurious, and that the story of Hoover's real approach to sex and organized crime is far more intriguing. The chilling portrait that takes shape in these pages is that of a moralistic bureaucrat who would not hesitate to use sex-related information against his political enemies - but only when it could not be traced to FBI investigations. And the FBI's ineffectiveness in pursuing organized-crime leaders had nothing to do with Hoover's vulnerability; it resulted from the director's lack of accountability, his use of illegal investigative techniques, and his focus on political activities. Punctuating his narrative with case materials drawn from Hoover's secret files - on presidential candidates, senators, congressmen, artists and writers, college presidents, and others - Theoharis unravels the brilliantly devious means that Hoover used to accomplish his political ends. And he shows how they contributed to a culture of lawlessness within the FBI itself. J. Edgar Hoover, Sex, and Crime is a useful corrective to our history as well as a fascinating exploration of one of the twentieth century's most sinister minds.

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Citations

  • Booklist, 02/01/1995, Page 978
  • Kirkus Reviews, 01/01/1995, Page 69
  • Library Journal, 02/01/1995, Page 88
  • Publishers Weekly, 01/16/1995, Page 446

About the author

Athan Theoharis is professor of history at Marquette University. His many books include The Boss, From the Secret Files of J. Edgar Hoover, Spying on Americans, Beyond the Hiss Case, Seeds of Repression, and The Yalta Myths. He lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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