Once the FBI became synonymous with the title “G-man,” Hoover became one of the largest “government patron[s] of the arts.” Hoover “helped produce radio shows, comic strips, pulp magazines, movies, and television programs all dedicated to the greater glory of the G-man.” Much like superheroes, the G-men became idols to kids. Many children “wore G-men pajamas to bed” and “played with G-men toy machine guns.” Hoover used such idolization to his advantage, helping him spread his own political agenda.
Much like G-men, gangsters also became popular characters in the media. Hoover did everything in his power to ensure he “[combated] the glamorous image of the gangsters.” He even went as far as to release FBI files to television and movie directors, just so he
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Unlike Robert Kennedy, who “civil rights had displaced organized crime as the issue of law enforcement closest to his heart,” change made Hoover nervous. According to the assistant director of the FBI, Hoover grew up in a segregated D.C. and was a Southern bigot at heart. The only African Americans in Hoover’s life happened to be his housekeepers and chauffeurs. Eventually Robert Kennedy mentioned to Hoover that there should be more than five agents of color in the Bureau, but he wouldn’t hear it. Hoover claimed Kennedy “wanted him to lower [the] qualifications and hire more Negro agents.” Hoover directly said to Kennedy, “Bobby, that’s not going to happen as long as I’m director of this bureau.” Unfortunately, Hoover’s prejudice set the precedent for the racial makeup of the FBI for many years to come. As of 2007, African Americans made up only 5.4% of the 12,617 total agents on the force. There have also been instances in which black agents sued the government for racial discrimination within the Bureau, even as late as the year
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.
Another thing to discuss is what he did in the FBI. During, and even after WWII, the FBI became known for working against the Nazi and Communist espionage. Eventually, Hoover’s power moved the Congress in 1968 to enact legislation requiring the senate to confirm future FBI directors. The Congress also limited the future FBI directors tenure to ten years. After King’s assassination, the FBI, under Hoover’s directions, launched a successful
The FBI got involved in every terrorism, espionage, counter espionage, sabotage, counter sabotage, kidnapping, and car theft cases. While Hoover’s success at legitimate crime fighting was modest, his hold over many powerful people and organizations earned him respect and kept him in power. A lot of people believed that John Edgar Hoover was gay and his lover was Clyde Anderson Tolson. Hoover didn’t have wife or any children that anyone knew of. He spent a lot of time with Clyde like going on strolls and going for rides in Atlantic City, New Jersey. As they spent more time together many people had thought Mr. Hoover was homosexual but it was never proven. Before he passed away he ended up having a file on almost everyone with a criminal or minor record. Mr. Hoover had files on everyone that held government office and/or was a public official. He stayed in office until the day he died on May 2, 1972 and upon his passing, Tolson inherited the estate and fortune but later when he died later on April 14, 1975, he was buried just a few yards away from his former director and close friend, Mr. John Edgar Hoover. Before Mr. Hoover had known it, he had created the best way to stop criminals. Mr. Hoover won a number of awards before he passed that included a 1955 National Security Medal, a 1939 Public Welfare Medal, and a 1966 Distinguished
J. Edgar Hoover for nearly a half of a century was and is one the most powerful officials in the Federal government. He was the head of the FBI from 1924 until his death in 1972; he was the chief law enforcement officer. With intimate knowledge of politicians and how government operations made him the man to be feared by elected officials, none of the many presidents whom he served under dared fire him. Hoover was born on January 1, 1895, in Washington D.C. He died in Washington, D.C., on May 2, 1972. Attended GW University and earned his degree in 1917. He became an assistant in 1919 to Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer in the Department of Justice. Palmer is the one that instigated the post WWI “red scare” this was an anti-communist plaque that led to the deportation of many aliens. In charge of deportations was Hoover, he became the director of the FBI in 1924; he had a powerful force of law enforcement officers. The FBI’s fame was enhanced by capturing so many gangsters, lawbreakers, and bank robbers.
All the President’s Men revolves around the importance of free press and the power it holds in shaping America’s political landscape. Focusing on the Watergate Scandal, this film follows reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they try to uncover the significance behind the Watergate building break-in. All the President’s Men is more relevant today than it has ever been due to the increasingly severe allegations against the Trump Administration along with President Trump’s constant lecture about fake news. Similar to how Richard Nixon was accused and exposed of foul play during his reelection by The Washington Post, Trump has similarly been accused of using unfair tactics during his presidential campaign in 2016. From being associated
We see that Mr. Hoover was able to produce positive effects for the FBI that would allow them to become an agency that would set the American law enforcement standard across the country (Gage, 2013). In his effort to produce a more visible professional and respectable element to law enforcement agencies in the United States he starts with setting his new standards at the FBI for the rest to
In American cultures today gangsters are more movie based than not. In movies gangsters are portrayed as criminals with a leadership type role. They organize criminal acts ranging from robbery,
Specific themes and elements can be readily identified in gangster films. For one, they commonly question the meaning of success and failure in terms of the American dream. Warshow asserts
The film All the President’s Men by Alan Pakula is a historical drama following the lives of two journalists in their adventure to uncover the secrets of the Watergate Scandal. A motion picture featuring a cast of members from the incident, the directors worked hard to create an exciting cinematic feature while keeping close historical accuracy. The Watergate Scandal brought to light the vast corruption and abuse of power that took place during the 1970s. The film addresses the struggles faced by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward in gathering information due to secrecy regarding Watergate, yet inaccurately portrays some historical events in order to elevate the cinematic power of the story.
In my opinion, a gangster or a villain is a person who creates drama in a movie or a story that makes its more interesting and catchy. This character seems to be always appealing to the audience because they can break the rule. Normal people usually repeating works that they do everyday therefore they would admire those characters. For example the Joker in Batman, he kills people for his enjoyment and hatred. He broke a lot of rules.
The earliest gangster films in the United States can be traced back to the silent epoch of 1897-1927 when the country was experiencing the progressive era (Kolker 67). The crime films during this period capitalized on the social conditions that were being encountered in the United States such as the immigration and urbanization that resulted in increasing of organized crimes, distrust of the government and social anarchy. Apparently, the proliferation of gangster activities and the social disorder led to the emergence of crime films. Importantly, the gangster films of the 1920s and late 1930s led to significant influence to the American cinema gangster mythology. These mythical gangster films were driven in a manner that could reach their epitome where ironically, they got doomed. The characters of these films were described as both heroes and criminals depending on the way the society viewed them. The gangster activities depicted in these early films were as a result of a failed United States economic
“J. Edgar” revolves around three main themes, Hoover’s quest for power and notoriety, his mothers matriarchal hold on him, and his closet homosexuality. These themes appeared time and time again. Eastwood initially paints Hoover as a patriot; doing what has to be done to protect his country. But, suggests that he was a liar who shamelessly took credit for arrests he did not make and crushed anyone who dare to defy him. Eastwood also suggests that Hoover’s rumored willingness to spy on politicians and private citizens was true. Furthermore, he suggests Hoovers readiness to use the information to black-male anyone that got in the way of his plans for the FBI or his pursuit of fame; was true as well.
This in turn made the public feel that those robbing banks and kidnapping the rich were striking out for the poor against the wealthy. With the masses on their side these outlaws had many supporters among the American public. Claire Potter described the difficulty police had in obtaining information on gangsters from everyday citizens. She wrote about police who were questioning a witness whose only answer was to ask "why we do not put all the bankers in jail who stole the people's money?"(147) On top of this, the gangsters also offered some sensation and drama to the people of the Great Depression. Since fulfilling one's basic needs was so difficult the public had little time or money for recreational activities. The stories of the wild shootouts and daring holdups then gave the public something to talk about offering a little escape from the difficulty if their daily lives. These two aspects allowed gangsters to make many friends and find support easily while trying to elude authorities.
Is racial bias an epidemic among law enforcement? The long history of racial tension between law enforcement and the public, namely in communities of color, certainly suggest so. The distrusts of the criminal justice system are not without merit; law enforcement has had a long history that includes racial biases and unfair treatment of minorities in this country. Race relation and discrimination are clearly in the forefront of modern law enforcement, particularly in the wake of high-profile cases, such as Ferguson, Statin Island, Tulsa, and other cities across the United States. However, the criminal justice system is not broken; law enforcement organizations can regain public trusts through effective leadership, transparency, and fostering diversity. Former FBI Director, James Comey was very transparent in his speech at Georgetown University. Comey raised many compelling points in his speech on law enforcement and race relations; two of the most salient issues are unconscious biases and relationship building, while cynicism and lack of data, although critical, has an indirect influence on racial disparities.
Herbert Hoover is a debated figure in United States history. “Hoover is often remembered only for his unpopular presidency during the Great Depression.”(Winkler, 21) Although this negative stigma haunts his legacy, Herbert Hoover was a kind, tenderhearted and generous man who did much good in his life before, during, and after his presidency. One of Hoover’s greatest endeavors was his generosity and effort in behalf of the Belgian Relief program. The article highlights this event.