Izzy Einstein

Prohibition agents were not popular people during the twenties. They enforced a law that many Americans did not agree with. They were further stigmatized because many agents were known to accept bribes from bootleggers, which made the entire bureau seem corrupt. Izzy Einstein was an exception. His unorthodox methods netted 4,932 arrests. Einstein had once been a salesman and used his people skills to put suspicious bartenders at ease. He also used disguises and clever ruses, as illustrated in this excerpt from Einstein's autobiography.

Despite his lack of police experience, Einstein eclipsed his fellow Prohibition agents. It was, however, that overwhelming success that would eventually get Einstein fired. The press loved Einstein and frequently published articles about him, but this publicity drew unwanted attention. His supervisors thought the publicity made a mockery of justice.

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