J. Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the FBI. He led the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1924 until he died in 1972. Hoover engaged in a controversial practice of keeping dossiers on political leaders and other influential figures for decades. Hoover used secret FBI files to maintain power, to protect his position, and shape national policy.

Moreover, Hoover kept secret files on presidents, senators, judges, and other powerful figures. These files often contained personal indiscretions, political vulnerabilities, or unverified rumors. He also maintained unauthorized surveillance records and other politically sensitive materials.

Hoover served under eight U.S. presidents, from Calvin Coolidge to Richard Nixon. He often shared political intelligence with presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson to curry favor. Hoover’s operations involved illegal wiretaps, infiltration, and smear campaigns, all justified under the guise of national security.

From 1956 to 1971, Hoover launched COINTELPRO to infiltrate, discredit, and disrupt groups he deemed subversive. Some of these groups include: Civil rights organizations, domestic political organizations, Anti-war activists, and so-called Leftist political groups. The current administration has dramatically expanded surveillance capabilities, drawing comparisons to COINTELPRO through its targeting of political opponents, activists, and marginalized communities.

This administration has dismantled barriers between federal databases. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has gained access to sensitive personal data like Social Security numbers, medical histories, tax records, immigration status, Federal employee databases, welfare records, and banking information; hence, they are raising alarms about privacy and cybersecurity. With help from private tech firms, this administration can now build comprehensive profiles of individuals tracking purchases, movements, communications, and even protest attendance.

This level of integration makes it easier to monitor dissent and political activity, even without direct surveillance. The parallels to COINTELPRO are striking: both eras involve targeting political enemies, monitoring marginalized groups, and using surveillance to shape public discourse. While technology has evolved, the core tactics of disruption, disinformation, and intimidation remain alarmingly familiar.

In closing, organizations such as the ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of these surveillance programs. Congressional Democrats have called for investigations into politicized intelligence gathering, citing parallels to Hoover’s FBI. As we move forward, protecting our freedoms in America starts with knowing your rights, actively participating in democracy, and holding government accountable through civic engagement, legal action, and public advocacy. Understanding your constitutional protections is the first line of defense.