An examination, half a century on from the first director of the FBI's death in office in 1972, of how Hoover's iron grip still permeates contemporary America.
Preview: Breaking Mississippi – Divine Destiny
Breaking Mississippi is the explosive inside story of one man’s war against racial segregation in 1960s America. This is a taster from ‘Divine Destiny’, the first episode in the series. To hear more, search for ‘Breaking Mississippi’ on BBC Sounds.
By becoming the first black person to apply to the all-white University of Mississippi – James Meredith will draw in the KKK and JFK – and trigger the largest number of troops ever deployed for a single disturbance on US soil.
Across 10 episodes and with US public radio journalist Jenn White as our guide - James Meredith takes us from his childhood in rural Mississippi where racism runs deep – to a pivotal flashpoint in US civil rights history that will be described as the last battle of the American Civil War.
This could be our last opportunity to hear James Meredith tell this story in his own words and in a way that's never been heard before.
Presenter: Jenn White
Producer: Conor Garrett
Editor: Philip Sellars
Original Music Score: Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris. Recorded @ North Street West
Audio Engineer: Gary Bawden
With special thanks to the University of Mississippi.
3/23/2023 • 9 minutes, 46 seconds
8. Shredded
Hoover’s death starts a race to control his secret personal files. But his power extends beyond the grave.
J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Correction note: The programme incorrectly identifies the Church Committee as the Church Commission.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 15 minutes, 29 seconds
7. Publish and Be Damned
Hoover begins to lose control of the American narrative.
J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes, 51 seconds
6. The Break-In
Amateur burglars risk all to go after Hoover’s secrets.
J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes, 46 seconds
5. "The Most Notorious Liar in the Country”
Martin Luther King Jr crosses Hoover's radar. It doesn't end well.
J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In this 8-part series, Emily Maitlis shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 13 minutes, 59 seconds
4. Witches
Hoover fans paranoia as his spy machine goes after Communists - real and imagined. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes
3. Infamy
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor creates an awkward moment for the domestic intelligence chief. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it.
Presenter: Emily Maitlis
Producer: Neal Razzell
Researcher: Louise Byrne
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: James Beard
Editor: Hugh Levinson
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes, 48 seconds
2. G-Men
Hoover takes on legendary gangsters of the 1930s and builds his own myth. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it.
Presenter: Emily Maitlis
Producer: Neal Razzell
Researcher: Louise Byrne
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: James Beard
Editor: Hugh Levinson
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes, 37 seconds
1. The Director Will See You Now
Emily Maitlis on the ascent to power of the man who made presidents wait. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America’s most powerful man. He’s been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today’s fears of a ‘deep state’ - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest – can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.
Producer: Neal Razzell
Research: Louise Byrne
Editor: Hugh Levinson
Production Coordinator: Janet Staples
Sound: Tom Brignell
9/13/2022 • 14 minutes, 56 seconds
Introducing The People vs J Edgar Hoover
In life, Hoover needed no introduction. In death, he needs this series teaser. Emily Maitlis tells how he built and ran the FBI and helped create today’s fears of a “deep state”.