Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34DIANE Publishing Company, 2007 - 592 pages Tells the full story of the most spectacular crime wave in Amer. history, the two-year battle between the young Hoover & the assortment of criminals who became nat. icons: John Dillinger, Machine Gun Kelly, Bonnie & Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, & the Barkers. In 1933, police jurisdictions ended at state lines, the FBI was in its infancy, the highway system was spreading, & fast cars & machine guns were easily available. Reveals many fascinating interconnections in the vast underworld system: safe houses, plastic surgeons, money launderers, & cops on the take. Hoover succeeded in using the ¿Great Crime Wave¿ to lever himself into the position of untouchable power he would occupy for almost half a century. Photos. |