• Hoover became director of the Bureau of Investigation at a crucial time in its history, a time when its competence and integrity were seriously questioned.
• Many conservative Americans still believed that the federal government had no business getting involved in police.
• At the outset, Hoover was determined to alter the Bureau's image, an undertaking for which, paradoxically, he proved in his confident rectitude ideally suited.
• The Bureau investigated; bankruptcy, prostitution, interstate auto theft, agents carrying no weapons, poor image, poor pay and poor training.
• It was suggested that the BI change it name to FBI which to Hoover suggested Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity.
• Revolutionised the FBI:.
.
-made it a world class organisation.
-advertised to the American people a new order in crime fighting and crime prevention.
• Hoover turned the FBI into the most powerful crime fighting organization in the USA.
• He sacked inefficient and corrupt agents and instituted strict codes of dress education and conduct .
• He established a modern, efficient state of the art-crime lab which became the envy of the world.
• He was able to use the media, especially Hollywood( G-Men movies starring Junes Cagney to gain public support).
• He gave more power to the FBI.
• He had a long career of unbroken service from 1917 to 1972. He died on the job at the age of 77.
Gangsterism.
• Prohibition in the 20's had produced an explosion of crime perpetrated by bootlegging gagsters who controlled territories by force and politicians through bribery.
• This encouraged the public's obsession with sensation crime ( a direct result of the wish to create action and excitement in the difficult an mundane days of the depression), both the media and Hollywood raised these gangsters to celebrity statues.