But in. Good evening, everyone. I believe we have a very nice, very, very nice audience tonight. I think perhaps the largest audience weve had since precovid. So welcome to tonights program. Only truly iconic figures of the 20th century american history. The long time fbi director j. Edgar hoover, a special. I suppose its not surprising that in a series titled great lives, the term iconic often comes up to the point of being somewhat trite, perhaps. But in this case, particularly, i think its appropriate because there are few figures to whom that description applies more properly. I agree that the j. Edgar hoover, for people of a certain generation, the man and i believe many of yours as well known, i dont mean to insult you, but yeah, no name in our earlier years was more problem. Or for a longer period of time than hoovers. After all, while president s came and went, eight of them during his career, in fact, hoover remained a towering figure, for better or worse, or perhaps i should
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
To assess a foreign domestic threats are real. They come from across the local spectrum. For over a century in addition to taking action against real threats to the lives of american citizens, bureaus and agencies within the United States government has surveilled of those who have expressed what the Cato Institute describes as strong local views that run counter to the prevailing political paradigm. This challenges the notion often expressed by those in support surveillance state of some sort that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. I want to come back to that later on. Maybe you really here to that view, maybe youre on the fence about it. Fine, we will have an opportunity to discuss that later. The history of abuse and mastic surveillance in this country necessitates that discussion is the same tool that can be used to protect citizens in a Democratic Society from legitimate threats can also be turned against those same citizens for less noble and even nefarious re
Intelligence communities to operate. Threats exist from foreign and domestic sources. Those threats are real. Theyve been real throughout u. S. History, come from across the political spectrum. For over a century in addition to taking action against real threats to the lives of american citizens, bureaus and agencies within the United States government have is your veiled those who have expressed what the Kato Institute describes as, quote, Strong Political views that run counter to the prevailing government political paradigm. This challenges the notion often expressed by those that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear i want to come back to that later on in our class discussion. Maybe you will adhere to that view. Maybe youre on the fence about it. Maybe you firmly object it. Well have an opportunity to discuss that later. History of abuses in domestic surveillance in this country necessitates that discussion. Same tools that can be used to protect citizens in a Demo
About today is can intelligence agencies operate in a Democratic Society and be successful in protecting the government and its citizens while also upholding the same citizens rights. Especially the right to dissent. In other words, are liberty and security compatible . No doubt, there is a need for intelligence communities to operate. Threats exist from foreign and domestic sources. Theyve been real throughout history. They come from across the political spectrum. For over a century, in addition to taking action against real threats to the lives of american citizens, bureaux and agencies within the United States government have surveilled those who expressed what the Cato Institute describes as, quote Strong Political views that run counter to the political paradigm. It challenges the notion often expressed by those who have a surveillance state of some sort. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Well come back to it later on. Maybe you adhere to the view. Maybe youre