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The People vs J Edgar Hoover Podcast Profile

The People vs J Edgar Hoover Podcast

English, History, 1 season, 10 episodes, 2 hours, 10 minutes
About
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.
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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.
3/23/20239 minutes, 46 seconds
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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
9/13/202215 minutes, 29 seconds
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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
9/13/202214 minutes, 51 seconds
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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
9/13/202214 minutes, 46 seconds
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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
9/13/202213 minutes, 59 seconds
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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
9/13/202214 minutes
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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
9/13/202214 minutes, 48 seconds
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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
9/13/202214 minutes, 37 seconds
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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
9/13/202214 minutes, 56 seconds
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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”.
6/7/20223 minutes, 39 seconds