meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

Understanding J. Edgar Hoover's America

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

WBUR

On Point, News, Npr, Daily, Talk Show

4.33.9K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2022

⏱️ 48 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Former FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. He hated the American left. Demonized and investigated his critics. But what did the rest of America think about him? Beverly Gage joins Meghna Chakrabarti.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by Slack. With Slack, you can bring all your people and

0:05.8

tools together in one place. It's your digital HQ where you can increase productivity,

0:11.0

enable flexibility and automate workflows. Plus, Slack is full of game-changing features

0:16.7

like huddles for quick check-ins or Slack Connect, which helps you connect with partners

0:20.9

inside and outside of your company. Slack, where the future works. Get started at

0:26.9

Slack.com slash DHQ. So Bella brings me the post and I'm like, oh no, this won't be good.

0:34.6

I mean, it's a vet spill. But then I remember many pets pet insurance. My complete policy

0:41.1

covers Bella for up to 15,000 pounds of vet fees. And breathe. Ensure your happiness with

0:51.7

many pets pet insurance. Get a quote at many pets.com.

0:58.2

Conditions and exclations apply. This is on point. I'm Megna Chakra Party. J Edgar

1:03.9

Hoover was the quintessential government man. He grew up in Washington, DC. He went to

1:10.2

college there in 1913, got his first job there and then spent his entire career there. A

1:17.9

legendary 48 years as the head of the federal Bureau of Investigations. And Hoover devoted

1:25.5

most of that career to hating and going after communists.

1:30.1

The communist party of the United States is a fifth column if there ever was one.

1:36.0

That was Hoover testifying at a congressional hearing on March 27, 1947. He goes on to

1:42.2

say that the communist party was, quote, far better organized than the Nazis, end quote,

1:47.7

and that their goal was to overthrow the US government. Hoover's goal to destroy them.

1:54.3

Communism in reality is not a political party. It is a way of life, an evil and malignant

2:00.4

way of life. It reveals a condition akin to disease that spreads like an epidemic. And

2:06.8

like an epidemic, a quarantine is necessary to keep it from infecting this nation.

2:12.6

Along with his five decade crusade against communism, Hoover is also known for how he took

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from WBUR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of WBUR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.