J. Edgar Hoover: First Director of the FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation was well overdue for a makeover, and that fell into the hands of a young government official, J. Edgar Hoover. When Hoover took over in 1924 as Director of the FBI, the Bureau had approximately 650 employees, and of those were 441 special agents. In five years, coinciding with a spree of firings, it had just 339 special agents and less than 600 total employees (The FBI and the American Gangster). Although this seems irrational to some, the Bureau was beginning to become the organized, professional, and effective force that Hoover seeked. J. Edgar Hoover shaped the FBI by his idea of true discipline and patriotism. Hoover was invested in politics in his early childhood …show more content…
He was born into politics on January 1st, 1985 in Washington DC. His parents were both civil servants for the United States Government. Hoover grew up with a severe stutter. In spite of his stutter, Hoover grew up extremely competitive. In high school, J. Edgar Hoover was a member of the debate team, the Captain of Cadets, and graduated valedictorian of his class. Being a part of the debate team, Hoover used the skill of talking fast to correct his stutter. All three of these roles are the characteristics of a leader. Hoover graduated from high school in 1913 and moved on to George Washington University Law School and earned a Bachelor of Laws and a Masters of Laws degree in 1916 before entering into law enforcement as the special assistant to the attorney general (J. Edgar Hoover Biography). Hoover earned the title of the first Director of the …show more content…
Hoover died on May 2nd, 1972 of natural causes ending his forty-eight-year long career (Biography of John Edgar Hoover). J. Edgar Hoover was the longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and he changed the face of the FBI and the government as we know it (J. Edgar Hoover history). Although many people had their doubts about Hoover and his involvement with the mob, his people had entrusted him to fight corruption. This seems irrational to some, but the Bureau became the organized, professional, and effective force that Hoover seeked, and shaped the FBI by his idea of true discipline and