The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, has been accused of exceeding their jurisdiction, persecuting those who oppose them, manipulating dubious crime data, exaggerating dangers of subversion, and practicing thought control (Americana Online, FBI). The question is, was J. Edgar Hoover a leader in carrying out these actions? Throughout Edgar's career, he was confirmed in his position from Coolidge to Nixon (Americana Online, Hoover). Hoover served as director of the FBI for 48 years, and brought many new technologies to the FBI. Although J. Edgar Hoover increased the effectiveness of the FBI, his use of unusual punishment, unreasonable searches, and a counterintelligence program, demonstrates his strong abuse of power.
             John Edgar Hoover's use of unusual punishment of wrongly arrested men brought attention to his strong hold on power. Most of the men and women confined had no political views of any special nature. They were simply working men and women of Russian nationality speaking little or no English (Americana Online, Civil Rights). These men and women were questioned by Department of Justice agents; some were beaten and threatened with hanging or suffocation in order to obtain answers from them. Once in prison, the prisoners were only allowed two to five minutes per day to wash their face and hands at a sink outside of their cell, and five minutes once a month to wash their bodies in a tub (Opposing Views). They were given little or no exercise and were fed foul and in- sufficient food. During the five months the prisoners were allowed no reading material. They were only allowed visits from Department of Justice Agents. Other than these visits, the prisoners were kept alone i!
             n their cell. In some cases, the prisoners were refused knowledge of the amount of bail under which they were kept. "These Hartford prisoners were practically buried alive for five months, being even denied the pri...