February 1, 1967. Drew Pearson shares a story in his column that appears to demonstrate the power still wielded by 72-year-old FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover:  “Gov. Grant Sawyer, Democrat, running for reelection, charged the FBI with wholesale wire tapping in Las Vegas and waging ‘an invisible war against Nevada.’ J. Edgar was really  sore. The election boiled down, in effect, to one between Gov. Sawyer and J. Edgar Hoover—though Hoover remained silent on the sidelines. In the end Sawyer lost, and afterward came to Washington to talk with President Johnson, Vice President Humphrey, and John Macy, head of the Civil Service Commission. All three urged him to accept a federal job. Finally LBJ came up with the offer that Sawyer become the governor general of the Panama Canal Zone. Sawyer hesitated, but finally agreed to accept the appointment. The White House then ordered the routine FBI check, and G-men started to ask questions in Nevada regarding Sawyer. Either Hoover’s men were not discreet in asking questions, or they deliberately leaked. At any rate, their investigation got into the headlines. There’s nothing LBJ dislikes more than being scooped on an appointment. This J. Edgar Hoover knows all too well. So the chances are his Nevada critic will not be governor of the Canal Zone.” Check out more of the Drew Pearson columns here. Photo: Hoover and LBJ in the Oval Office. 4/28/1965. LBJ Presidential Library photo #A355-33, public domain. 
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February 1, 1967. Drew Pearson shares a story in his column that appears to demonstrate the power still wielded by 72-year-old FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover: 

“Gov. Grant Sawyer, Democrat, running for reelection, charged the FBI with wholesale wire tapping in Las Vegas and waging ‘an invisible war against Nevada.’

J. Edgar was really  sore. The election boiled down, in effect, to one between Gov. Sawyer and J. Edgar Hoover—though Hoover remained silent on the sidelines.

In the end Sawyer lost, and afterward came to Washington to talk with President Johnson, Vice President Humphrey, and John Macy, head of the Civil Service Commission. All three urged him to accept a federal job. Finally LBJ came up with the offer that Sawyer become the governor general of the Panama Canal Zone.

Sawyer hesitated, but finally agreed to accept the appointment. The White House then ordered the routine FBI check, and G-men started to ask questions in Nevada regarding Sawyer.

Either Hoover’s men were not discreet in asking questions, or they deliberately leaked. At any rate, their investigation got into the headlines.

There’s nothing LBJ dislikes more than being scooped on an appointment. This J. Edgar Hoover knows all too well. So the chances are his Nevada critic will not be governor of the Canal Zone.”

Check out more of the Drew Pearson columns here. Photo: Hoover and LBJ in the Oval Office. 4/28/1965. LBJ Presidential Library photo #A355-33, public domain. 

November 4, 1966. LBJ poses with Blanco and one of the beagles (Freckles or J. Edgar) on the steps of the diplomatic entrance to the White House. The beagles are very difficult to tell apart! On this day, according to the Diary, LBJ stopped for photos with Blanco and both J. Edgar and Freckles (one of Him’s puppies)—but which one is in this photo is anybody’s guess. After Him (of Him and Her) was hit by a car on the White House lawn while chasing a squirrel in June 1966, FBI Director and fellow dog lover J. Edgar Hoover gave the President another beagle. The President named the dog J. Edgar, but later dropped the J. and called  him Edgar. LBJ Library photo #C3810-17, public domain. 
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November 4, 1966. LBJ poses with Blanco and one of the beagles (Freckles or J. Edgar) on the steps of the diplomatic entrance to the White House.

The beagles are very difficult to tell apart! On this day, according to the Diary, LBJ stopped for photos with Blanco and both J. Edgar and Freckles (one of Him’s puppies)—but which one is in this photo is anybody’s guess. After Him (of Him and Her) was hit by a car on the White House lawn while chasing a squirrel in June 1966, FBI Director and fellow dog lover J. Edgar Hoover gave the President another beagle. The President named the dog J. Edgar, but later dropped the J. and called  him Edgar.

LBJ Library photo #C3810-17, public domain. 

September 22, 1966, 2:10 PM. LBJ goes for a walk with his dogs, aide Marvin Watson, and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.  LBJ Presidential Library photo C3177-35, public domain. 
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September 22, 1966, 2:10 PM. LBJ goes for a walk with his dogs, aide Marvin Watson, and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. 

LBJ Presidential Library photo C3177-35, public domain. 

March 26, 1965. LBJ makes this statement to the press about the arrest of four KKK members responsible for the murder of a white civil rights worked from Detroit, Viola Gregg Liuzzo, who was shot on the highway while driving a car to Montgomery in order to shuttle civil rights marchers back to Selma. 

The four are brought up on federal charges, and three will eventually be convicted by an all-white federal jury in Montgomery and sentenced to 10 years each. The fourth man, Gary Thomas Rowe, Jr., is actually an FBI informant. Earlier that day, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had spoken to LBJ about FBI informants in the KKK. Listen to their conversation here. 

August 4, 1964. 8:01 p.m. The Deputy Director of the FBI, Cartha ‘Deke’ Deloach, calls LBJ to tell him that the bodies of the three missing civil rights workers have been found. LBJ then calls his aide Lee White to ask him contact the families of the murdered men.

In the background of both calls you can hear almost inaudible murmurings from the Cabinet Room. LBJ, Robert McNamara, Dean Rusk, and McGeorge Bundy were speaking with the Congressional leadership about the ongoing Gulf of Tonkin crisis when DeLoach called.

July 23, 1964, 5:31 p.m. LBJ talks to Texas Governor, and old friend, John Connally. They discuss the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party—which will soon become a major thorn in LBJ’s side—Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Barry Goldwater, and lots of other issues around the upcoming Democratic National Convention. 

November 10, 1960. JFK announces the appointment of Clark Clifford as liaison with Eisenhower administration, along with the retention of Allen Dulles at the CIA, and J. Edgar Hoover, above, at the FBI. Photo via JFK Library.
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November 10, 1960. JFK announces the appointment of Clark Clifford as liaison with Eisenhower administration, along with the retention of Allen Dulles at the CIA, and J. Edgar Hoover, above, at the FBI.

Photo via JFK Library.