J. Edgar Hoover and his G-men
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
J. Edgar Hoover and his G-men
Praeger, 1995
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Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. [227]-239) and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Through gripping accounts of actual incidents, William Breuer brings the reader to the front lines of battle with Hoover and his crimebusters. Thrilling manhunts, thwarted mayhem, and tense confrontations dominate the action as the FBI tracks down the most dangerous hoodlums, kidnappers, and marauders of the era. Breuer also examines the social obstacles of pursuing justice during that bleak period in American history. Citizen apathy spurred by the Depression further stacked the odds against the G-Men as they chased desperadoes across the landscape. Somehow, the FBI achieved unprecedented success in the face of almost insurmountable odds. This powerful volume demonstrates the stunning evolution of a tattered, corrupt organization into a disciplined unit priding itself on integrity and a tireless dedication to duty. Most of all, Hoover's mystique and the sheer force of his will can be felt with each encounter detailed in this fascinating book.
As the blood of criminal violence flowed through the streets in early 1920s America, the FBI was rendered helpless by unholy alliances with crooked politicians and shady dealings. A dynamic, young J. Edgar Hoover would change all that. After being named director of the FBI, Hoover quickly whipped the bureau into crime-fighting shape through mass firings of political hacks and painstaking screening of new recruits. Hoover's meticulous revitalization of the FBI resulted in the forming of a small, coldly efficient force that eagerly awaited its chance to battle the criminal element. Once Congress removed limitations on making arrests and carrying firearms, Hoover and 600 G-Men took to the streets, matching guns and wits with America's most notorious gangsters in an all-out war. The G-Men rapidly nailed ruthless criminals and well-known kingpins such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Ma Barker and her sons, Machine Gun Kelly, and Creepy Karpis (who was personally apprehended by Hoover).
Through gripping accounts of actual incidents, William Breuer brings the reader to the front lines of battle with Hoover and his crimebusters. Thrilling manhunts, thwarted mayhem, and tense confrontations dominate the action as the FBI tracks down the most dangerous hoodlums, kidnappers, and marauders of the era. Breuer also examines the social obstacles of pursuing justice during that bleak period in American history. Citizen apathy spurred by the Depression further stacked the odds against the G-Men as they chased desperadoes across the landscape. Somehow, the FBI achieved unprecented success in the face of almost insurmountable odds. This powerful volume demonstrates the stunning evolution of a tattered, corrupt organization into a disciplined unit priding itself on integrity and a tireless dedication to duty. Most of all, Hoover's mystique and the sheer force of his will can be felt with each encounter detailed in this fascinating book.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments "Little George Won't Panic!" "No Catch-All for Political Hacks" Bank Robbery: A Growth Industry "Ma" Barker and Her Boys The Man Who Planned to Kidnap Babe Ruth The Great Prison Breakout The "Texas Rattlesnake" and His Moll "We Just Wanted an Easy Pay-Off" A Hit-and-Run Raid Cutting a Deal in "Tom's Town" A Massacre that Outraged America "Machine Gun" Kelly and His Ambitious Wife An Oil Tycoon with a Photographic Memory Rounding Up a Kidnapping Gang Manhunt Orders: "Shoot to Kill!" Murder in Cold Blood A Hot Tip from "Old Joe" the Alligator Winter Guests in Tucson Siege in Wisconsin's North Woods High Drama Outside a Movie Theater Violent Confrontations Lashing Out at "Sentimental Moo-Cows" Follow That Airplane! "Our Job Is Never Done!" Aftermath Notes Index
by "Nielsen BookData"