The People Vs J Edgar Hoover

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

Omnibus 1

20220903

Emily Maitlis on the ascent to power of the man who made presidents wait. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. In the first of two programmes, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

Meet the man who made presidents wait. With Emily Maitlis.

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

Omnibus 2

20220910

The story of the legendary lawman's fall. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the second of two omnibus episodes, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Correction note: The programme incorrectly identifies the Church Committee as the Church Commission.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

The story of the legendary lawman's fall from power.

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

1. The Director Will See You Now

20220613

Emily Maitlis on the ascent to power of the man who made presidents wait. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

Meet the man who made presidents wait. With Emily Maitlis.

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

2. G-men

20220614

Hoover takes on legendary gangsters of the 1930s and builds his own myth. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it.

Presenter: Emily Maitlis

Producer: Neal Razzell

Researcher: Louise Byrne

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: James Beard

Editor: Hugh Levinson

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

3. Infamy

20220615

The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor creates an awkward moment for the domestic intelligence chief. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it.

Presenter: Emily Maitlis

Producer: Neal Razzell

Researcher: Louise Byrne

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: James Beard

Editor: Hugh Levinson

The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor - an awkward moment for the domestic intelligence chief.

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

4. Witches

20220616

Hoover fans paranoia as his spy machine goes after Communists - real and imagined. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

5. ''the Most Notorious Liar In The Country\u201d

20220620

Martin Luther King Jr crosses Hoover's radar. It doesn't end well.

J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In this 8-part series, Emily Maitlis shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

6. The Break-in

20220621

Amateur burglars risk all to go after Hoover's secrets.

J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

7. Publish And Be Damned

20220622

Hoover begins to lose control of the American narrative.

J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

8. Shredded

20220623

Hoover's death starts a race to control his secret personal files. But his power extends beyond the grave.

J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it.

Correction note: The programme incorrectly identifies the Church Committee as the Church Commission.

Producer: Neal Razzell

Research: Louise Byrne

Editor: Hugh Levinson

Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Sound: Tom Brignell

Hoover's death starts a race to control his secret files. But his power continues.

An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
	Omnibus 1	20220903	Emily Maitlis on the ascent to power of the man who made presidents wait. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. In the first of two programmes, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell Meet the man who made presidents wait. With Emily Maitlis. An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
	Omnibus 2	20220910	The story of the legendary lawman's fall. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the second of two omnibus episodes, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Correction note: The programme incorrectly identifies the Church Committee as the Church Commission. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell The story of the legendary lawman's fall from power. An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
02	1. The Director Will See You Now	20220613	Emily Maitlis on the ascent to power of the man who made presidents wait. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell Meet the man who made presidents wait. With Emily Maitlis. An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
03	2. G-men	20220614	Hoover takes on legendary gangsters of the 1930s and builds his own myth. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it. Presenter: Emily Maitlis Producer: Neal Razzell Researcher: Louise Byrne Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: James Beard Editor: Hugh Levinson An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
04	3. Infamy	20220615	The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor creates an awkward moment for the domestic intelligence chief. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. His job was to enforce the law...but he would not always be bound by it. Presenter: Emily Maitlis Producer: Neal Razzell Researcher: Louise Byrne Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: James Beard Editor: Hugh Levinson The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor - an awkward moment for the domestic intelligence chief. An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
05	4. Witches	20220616	Hoover fans paranoia as his spy machine goes after Communists - real and imagined. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
06	5. ''the Most Notorious Liar In The Country\u201d	20220620	Martin Luther King Jr crosses Hoover's radar. It doesn't end well. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In this 8-part series, Emily Maitlis shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
07	6. The Break-in	20220621	Amateur burglars risk all to go after Hoover's secrets. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
08	7. Publish And Be Damned	20220622	Hoover begins to lose control of the American narrative. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.
09	8. Shredded	20220623	Hoover's death starts a race to control his secret personal files. But his power extends beyond the grave. J Edgar Hoover built then ran the FBI for almost five decades. He turned it from a bureaucratic backwater into a premier crime fighting and counterintelligence force. In the process, he arguably became America's most powerful man. He's been dead 50 years and still his shadow looms over the US. Today's fears of a deep state' - of unaccountable government officials working against the public in their own interest - can be traced back to him. In the first of an 8-part series, Emily shows how though his job was to enforce the law...he would not always be bound by it. Correction note: The programme incorrectly identifies the Church Committee as the Church Commission. Producer: Neal Razzell Research: Louise Byrne Editor: Hugh Levinson Production Coordinator: Janet Staples Sound: Tom Brignell Hoover's death starts a race to control his secret files. But his power continues. An examination of how the first director of the FBI's iron grip still permeates America.