“Reading Between the Lines”: The Bureau of Investigation, the United States Post Office, and Domestic Surveillance During World War I

During World War I, the FBI (or the Bureau of Investigation, as it was then called) orchestrated the first domestic surveillance program in collaboration with the U.S. Post Office Department. Methods included wire-tapping, the use of informants, and the monitoring of mail, with the cooperation of Po...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Conolly-Smith, Peter (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2009
In: Social justice
Year: 2009, Volume: 36, Issue: 1, Pages: 7-24
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Burleson, Albert S
Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar), 1895-1972
Bielaski, A. Bruce
Wiretapping
Criminal Procedure
Police surveillance
Criminal Justice System
History
Intelligence service > United States
United States history > World War, 1914-1918
Postal service > United States > History
Electronic surveillance laws
Description
Summary:During World War I, the FBI (or the Bureau of Investigation, as it was then called) orchestrated the first domestic surveillance program in collaboration with the U.S. Post Office Department. Methods included wire-tapping, the use of informants, and the monitoring of mail, with the cooperation of Postmaster General Albert S. Burleson and the Post Office Department's Solicitor General, Judge William H. Lamar. Confidential memos and Post Office reports of the period show that surveillance tactics inherited, perfected, and bequeathed by J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the Bureau of Investigation, are still used in domestic spying today.