Who is J. Edgar Hoover from Robert Kennedy and His Times and what is their importance?

J. Edgar Hoover, who became the Director of the FBI in 1924, held his post for approximately forty years. During this time, he accumulated terrific and terrifying power. By the time the Kennedys entered politics, Hoover operated quite independently of any governmental branch and had little accountability. When WWII came to a close, Hoover began to focus on national security, specifically, Communist infiltration into America. Bolstered by McCarthy, Hoover became a national figure, keeping secret lists and dossiers on thousands of "suspected" Communists and Communist sympathizers. He has been described as a vindictive, right-wing egomaniac and master blackmailer. Government officials feared him and rarely disagreed with or opposed his actions, even when his actions were clearly illegal. Hoover saw Bobby Kennedy as a threat to his autonomy, especially in the area of wiretapping and bugging, and, in turn, Bobby made it clear the Hoover was a threat to democracy.