The Boss: J. Edgar Hoover and the Great American Inquisition - Softcover

Athan G. Theoharis; John Stuart Cox

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553285394 ISBN 13: 9780553285390

Publisher: Bantam, 1990

Synopsis

Traces the life of J. Edgar Hoover, examines the way in which he ran the FBI, and discusses the secret files he kept on politicians, celebrities and extremists

About this title

Review

"This strong book proves that, at the top, the bureau was turned into what could be called the H.B.I. (Hoover Bureau of Investigation)... Unlike some recent Hoover biographers, the authors do not make apologies for the excesses of 'The Boss.' They have the goods on him. A compelling study." --Herbert Mitgang, New York Times Book Review "I thought I had a fair idea of the damage done to American freedom by J. Edgar Hoover, but I knew nothing until I read The Boss. It is a gripping, nauseating account of a twisted character--and of the underside of the American psyche, which he manipulated so effectively." --Anthony Lewis "Theoharis and Cox, from a study of previously inaccessible FBI files plus extensive interviews, shed further light on the methods by which Hoover attained, employed and abused power, demonstrating that 'The Boss' more proficiently undermined our constitutional guarantees than any political leader before or since. ...This important biography adds significantly to the growing dossier demythologizing a legend." --Publishers Weekly

From Publishers Weekly

In Secrecy and Power (1987), Richard Gid Powers argued that the late FBI director achieved greater power than any figure in U.S. history. Theoharis and Cox, from a study of previously inaccessible FBI files plus extensive interviews, shed further light on the methods by which Hoover attained, employed and abused power, demonstrating that "The Boss" more proficiently undermined our constitutional guarantees than any political leader before or since. The authors also speculate about what made "this sad, impoverished man" tick as they probe the darker aspects of Hoover's psyche, elaborating for instance on his identification of political radicalism with filth and licentiousness, "neither of which ever failed to arouse in him an almost hysterical loathing." This important biography adds significantly to the growing dossier demythologizing a legend. Theoharis is a history professor at Marquette University, Cox a freelance writer. Illustrations.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0553285394
• ISBN 13: 9780553285390
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 561