[Arubis]

Since I'm being downvoted (probably appropriately for a half-assed answer), some clarification: Mr. Hoover was demonstrably happy to (ab)use the powers of the state against both political and civilian domestic opponents.

I actually don't mean to single him out in particular, but more to point to the overall trend.

[dllthomas]

I think you're confusing Herbert Hoover and J. Edgar Hoover.

[Arubis]

EDIT: to sibling comment, you are correct. I'm both learning and eating crow.