J. Edgar Hoover Ethical Issues

Other functions of Division 8 included the writing of books that would come out in Hoover’s name. He got the credit – and undoubtedly the royalties – for his books such as “Masters of Deceit” (Summers, 1993). Since most of his books did very well because of his sterling public reputation, the royalties often on a single book would be thousands of dollars.

J. Edgar Hoover as a Director and as a Man As indicated in this chapter, J. Edgar Hoover was a paradox as a man, a despot as a director, and a national figure who aimed to keep his reputation unsullied while also building his image as the nation’s top cop. However, Curt Gentry said this about him: “One of the deepest and darkest secrets of all the FBI’s secrets was that America’s number one law enforcement officer was himself a crook” (Gentry, 1991, p. 449).

First, he either ordered or sanctioned illegal break-ins, he had his agents burglarize buildings when Hoover was interested in getting information he could use or using illegal wiretaps. Second, he used the information he gathered, often unconstitutionally, to blackmail people, especially government officials, up to and including presidents. Third, he dipped into FBI funds for his personal use, and when he had special agents, on government time, write books for him, he personally pocketed the royalties. In many ways he was an insecure and petty man who envied other people who got the limelight. And he was not able to put aside his racial attitudes and prejudices to properly run the FBI, which was evident during the era of the civil rights movement. As a result, Hoover and the FBI did not have an enviable record in terms of protecting the civil rights of citizens in the 1950s, 60s, and