J. Edgar Hoover

John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 – May 2, 1972) was an influential but controversial director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was the founder of the present form of the agency, and remained director for 48 years until his death in 1972, at age 77. During his life he was highly regarded by the US public, but in the years since his death many allegations have tarnished his image.

Hoover's leadership spanned eight presidential administrations, encompassed Prohibition, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. During this time the United States moved from a rural nation with strong isolationist tendencies to an urbanized superpower.

Hoover has frequently been accused of exceeding and abusing his authority. He is known to have investigated individuals and groups because of their political beliefs rather than suspected criminal activity as well as using the FBI for other illegal activities such as burglaries and illegal wiretaps. Hoover fired FBI agents randomly or frequently by singling out those who he thought "looked stupid like truck drivers" or he considered to be "pinheads." He also relocated agents who had displeased him to career-ending assignments and locations. Melvin Purvis was a prime example; he was one of the more effective agents in capturing and breaking up 1930s gangs and received substantial public recognition, but a jealous Hoover maneuvered him out of the FBI. It is because of Hoover's long and controversial reign that FBI directors are now limited to ten-year terms.citation needed]