Hoover's FBI

The Inside Story by Hoover's Trusted Lieutenant

De: Cartha D. DeLoach

Narrado por: Jeff Riggenbach

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the film J. Edgar, directed by Clint Eastwood.

As director of the FBI for over five decades, J. Edgar Hoover left a profound and lasting legacy on this most celebrated institution. Only the few who were part of Hoover's inner circle know the truth about his controversial years of authoritarian rule and the organization's inmost secrets.

One of Hoover's trusted deputies, DeLoach gives us the most authentic account ever written of the FBI, setting the record straight about questions that have plagued modern history. From the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., to the FBI crusades against organized crime and the Communist Party, to Hoover's disputed sexual orientation and the secret files he allegedly kept to blackmail hostile members of Congress, here is the gripping narrative of a government agency caught on a tightrope between presidential administrations and the limits of the law.

©1995 by Cartha DeLoach (P)1996 by Blackstone Audiobooks

will open up your eyes

Media and many on all sides of our culture have perpetuated lies about Hoover and many others. this book is very enlightening.

good FBI stories mixed with apology for hoover

There are certainly some very interesting FBI stories in here and they make the book worth listening to. I found the description of the Mississippi Burning investigation especially interesting.

However, the author is an uncritical Hoover-apologist. So, the long-defenses of Hoover's actions, racial attitudes, etc. are tedious. While I have no doubt that some criticisms of Hoover over the years are exaggerated, the author destroys the credibility he might have had in assessing Hoover by consistently rejecting any criticism of Hoover at all as the result of various ill-defined left-wing conspiracies. If you are hoping for some sort of objective analysis of Hoover as FBI Director, this will not provide it. But, if you like good stories about detective-work, this has a fair amount--especially in the last 2/3rds of the book.

I recommend skipping the entire chapter on Hoover's sexual orientation. Other than the basic cross-dressings rumors that everyone knows, I had never given all that much thought to Hoover's sexual orientation before. But, DeLoach's full-court press to convince the reader that Hoover wasn't gay is loaded with homophobia from another era. I really cringed at times realizing that, not so long ago, a lot of people out there probably thought of homosexuality the same way DeLoach does. Anywho, his effort to convince the reader that Hoover was straight has the opposite effect of convincing the reader that he was in fact gay. Sure the cross-dressing rumors seem to be unfounded but the gay thing is pretty obvious from DeLoach's effort to argue otherwise.

Sadly, the recording sounds like it was done over speakerphone--well-below the quality of the other Audible books I have purchased. Also, the reader has at least a dozen or so glaring mispronunciations. I'm not a stickler for these things usually, but some are over words you've probably been using regularly since high-school--not things that should have slipped through.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Excellent insight to Hooverdom. The good stuff ... and the true stuff. If you're still interested in learning more about Hoover this book fills in a lot of blanks and dark corners.

Hoover's FBI

Great book, well written and very informative. I enjoyed the first hand information from someone who was actually there. I lived in the DC area during Hoover's time and remember it all. Cartha DeLoach tells the story like he lived it and loved it.

DeLoach: apologist for Hoover?

This book written by the 2nd ranking assistant to J. Edgar Hoover provides exacting detail about the life of Hoover and the numerous high profile investigations during his tenure. DeLoach spends a lot of time combatting claims about his old boss--so much time that he appears to be an apologist or loyal defender of Hoover according no credibility to other authors' claims about the allegedly sordid life of Hoover. However, it is still a great book that chronicles the evolution of criminal investigation over Hoover's decades at the FBI.

I like History, but....

Sounds like this guy was real devoted to Hoover - Hoover could do no wrong. Most of the rumors about Hoover seem to be all wrong according to the author. I do NOT believe him. Otherwise a good listen.

What a Story

Interesting to hear from the number three man at the FBI during the Hoover years. I will definitely read more about the subject.

Fairly obvious

The story being told by the author is fairly obvious (especially to those of us who were adults during much of that time and realized the truth), but it's one that must be told.

It's hard to believe that this book was published over 10 years ago, and still the media and the entertainment industry insist on portraying Hoover as a cross-dresser and one who spied capriciously on "law-abiding US citizens."

The violence inherent in the policies of the protestors of the 60s and 70s warranted keeping an eye on them ("burn down the cities; kill members of the establishment, etc." As I said, we who remember those things which were being advocated by these groups, saw no reason why such violence-prone organizations should have went unwatched.)

And the fact that the Attorney General has to approve of wiretaps is something that Hoover's detractors always overlook. Especially since the Attorney General that approved many of the wire taps--even on Martin Luther King's phone--was none other than Bobby Kennedy.

Nor is DeLoach afraid to show Hoover's warts and faults along with his dedication. He points out Hoover's egocentric nature, his petty grudges and his biases.

Sometimes the truth hurts, and the many truths contained in this book, though painful to some cultural icons, needed to see the light of day.

outdated and tends to be self-serving.

Fairly trpical review of a bureaucrats career as viewed thru rose-coloured glasses. strangely organized, at times chronological, at other times thematic, but it generally worked. i enjoyed the book but would recommend to others a more recent accounting. much has come to light since this was originally written!

Didnt feel like this was the TRUE STORY!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would probably spend more time detailing the structure of the FBI from then to now opposed to how it was briefly generically explained about how hoover recruited agents.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was what I expected, so I had no real comment about it.

What three words best describe Jeff Riggenbach’s performance?

He told the story in a manner that matched all of the events. Good performance.

Did Hoover's FBI inspire you to do anything?

Maintain my professionalism.