Who has written a book about the grimkes a family that included most slaveowners and abolitionists. Joining us now is beverly gage. Her newest book is genius J Edgar Hoover and the making of the American Century. You won the Los Angeles Times book award for biography last night. I did. Ask and you have already won the bancroft prize. Correct. In your speech last night you referred to J Edgar Hoover as complicated and terrible. Why do you use the word terrible . I think one of his main influences over this vast swath of time that he was director of the fbi were real invasions and violations of people as individuals, social movements, people engaged in perfectly legal activity. A lot of that came from his own ideas and desire to control what was happening. I think there are some of the worst things he did and major features of his legacy. How did he get started with the fbi and when . It was almost fainted that J Edgar Hoover would end up doing this. He was born in washington in 1895 and
Another guy with the same name, kenneth carlson, and he is kenneth r carlson. He was a wrestler. Im kenneth g carlson i was sort of a basketball player. Did that cause any problems to you . Absolutely. The day i reported in the gym, the people that had the roster said you already signed in. I said no i havent. They said you have. I said no i havent. They go oh, my gosh there is two of them. So when we were in the barracks it was much too small. So now ken carlson large. He used to be ken carlson small but he didnt like that so hes now ken carlson handsome and im ken carlson large and it works out fine. He became a fbi agent. As long as you are good with if, im fine with it. Im happy with that. Tell me about your background chblt where you are from and where you grew up. Im an army brat. I was born in detroit. My father deployed to world war ii just after my birth. He went to the pacific as an army officer. He was going to be part of the invasion of japan from philippines. He was an ord
Cadet, has vietnam war service, his years teaching at military colleges, and the time when Newt Gingrich audited his class. The interview is produced by the west point center for oral history. Its an hour and 40 minutes. Good afternoon. Today is 13, november, 2015 and i am in the center for oral history with mr. Kenneth g. Carlson. How are you, sir . I am fine, thank you. Sir, could you please spell your last name for us carlson. Youre not the only carlson in your class, are you . I am not the only carlson in my class. Theres another guy with the same name, kenneth carlson, hes kenneth r. Carlson. He was a wrestler. Im kenneth g. Carlson. I was sort of a basketball player. Did that cause any problems for you . Absolutely. The day i reported into the gymnasium, i walked into the door with my little bag and the people who had the roster there said youve already signed in. I said, no, i havent, i just walked in the door the first time. They said kenneth carlson, you just youve already sig
Eastern on cspan. Cspans history series landmark cases season two. Starts monday, 9 00 p. M. Eastern with the look of the significance of Supreme Court decision, and exploring the case is farah peterson, associate law professor and mark killenbeck. Watch landmark cases live monday 9 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. Cspan. Org. And order the book available for 8. 8. 95 and shipping and handling. And for Additional Resources theres a link on the website to the National Constitution centers interactive constitution. Next on oral history. Kenneth carlson, his experience as a west point cadet and his years teaching at military colleges. This interview is part of the west point center for oral history. Its an hour and 40 minutes. Good afternoon, i am in the center for oral history with kenneth g carlson, how are you sir . Im good thank you. Carlson. And youre not the only carlson in your class are you . I am not the only carlson in my class, theres another guy with the same name, kenneth carlson,
Carlson. Youre not the only carlson in your class, are you . I am not the only carlson in my class. Theres another guy with the same name, kenneth carlson, hes keith edge r. Carlson, he was a wrestler, im kenneth g. Carlson i was sort of a basketball player. Did that cause any problems for you . Absolutely. The day i reported into the gymnasium, i walked into the door with my little bag and the people who had the roster there said youve already signed in. I said, no, i havent, i just walked in the door the first time. They said kenneth carlson, you just you know are, youve already signed in. I said i really have not. And they said oh, my gosh, theres two of them, kenneth g. And keith r. So when i was in east barracks i was getting his laundry which was much too small for me and he was getting mine. So now my classmates know me as ken carlson large and he eyesed to be ken carlson small but he didnt liking that so hes now ken carlson handsome and im ken carlson large. And it works out fi