Harriet Boe

I have roughly 400 more screens on kindle to read. Homosexual people including Hoover are tossed about. Homosexuality is accepted today so it’s not read with special interest. Washington was and is populated with many homosexuals. I’m glad there is a place for them and their intelligence which usually is above average.The book is well researched. I can see why the Roosevelts protected Hoover. They both had romances that needed a cover. One of the reviews question why more celebrities were not in the book. They have family survivors that could cause libel suites. As to Hovers contribution to national security and the foreign bureau of investigations it is sizable. After his death much that needed cleaning up was done. He possesses great intelligence and intuitions for his work. His homosexuality is presented as a fact and perhaps as an aspect to peak interest of the reader. However it is late in the game and should probably receive just a few matter of fact paragraphs. As to the analysis of the psychology leading to his homosexuality there could be argument. If the book were focused on just that aspect of his life I would have less interest. Ho hum. The FBI had to undergo quite a bit of reform after Hoover and became an excellent department of national security and foreign espionage. I will finish reading, I give it a 3 star rating. Would I recommend it. It’s history and knowledge.

My parents fled authoritarianism in Poland in the 1920s. My father from Broszteck a Polish Jewish village the Nazis slaughtered. My mother left Krakow in the late 20s. They both had family that suffered under the Nazis regime. Dr. Maddow’s book informed me that from the 30s and 40s authoritarianism lives on and now is bolstered by technology. It is covering our world. Man was born to be free its survival amazes me and forces me to question the intelligence of people and the strength and power of agitprop. The wealthy that take up the authoritarian ideology do it out of greed and avarice . Middle class and the average rich out of ignorance and misguided thinking. The magic and power of propaganda. The persuasion of hateful compelling rhetoric. The book leaves me fearful democracy is too fragile to win the fight. Democracy is soil for corruption because it harbors capitalism . The power of money. For democracy to survive its laws must be strengthened and term limits instituted.. gerrymandering removed immediately. Dr. Maddow is a brilliant political commentator and researcher. I highly recommend the reading of this past reflection on America's past. It is a MUST. writing this I recalled Teddy Roosevelt quote. Big Business will be the ruination of this Country.

All his books are wonderfully written and very very funny. A great humorist. Incisive excellent observer and possessed incredible talents for writing his experiences with hilarity. Enjoyed his appearances on Jack Paar and loved his books.