Hoover ‘puts record straight7

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32629, 10 June 1971, Page 11

Hoover ‘puts record straight 7

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 9. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to its director, Mr J. Edgar Hoover, is “tapping” 47 telephones and has at least six microphones planted secretly for security reasons or to investigate organised crime. None of them, however, involves Congressmen, Mr Hoover gave this information to a closed-door House of Representatives Appropriations Sub-committee hearing, “to put the record straight,” about his criticised agency.

His heavily-censored testimony was made public today. The Democratic Leader of the House (Mr Hale Boggs, of Louisiana) alleged some time ago that the F. 8.1. was “bugging” Congressional telephones, but he has produced no evidence to support this accusation.

Mr Hoover told the subcommittee that in 1970 New Left and black extremists in-

tensifled their violent and terroristic tactics, while old-line Communists revived their efforts to influence the American people, and Communist countries increased their intelligence work against the United States. “The most serious threat to the security of our country is from the Soviet Union and her satellites,” said Mr Hoover, who added this warning: "Despite her differences with the Soviet Union, China continues to regard the United States as the common enemy of the people of the world, and her propaganda is designed to stimulate the disruption of our society.” Mr Hoover disclosed that the F. 8.1. had opened six new “foreign liaison posts” during the last year, in Lebanon, Venezuela, Denmark, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Israel, making a total of 17 such posts “to develop and maintain a close co-operative relationship with the police and other investigative agencies of the countries they cover.” Asked about American entertainers who support the Black Panthers, Mr Hoover mentioned the folk-singer, Joan Baez, who, he said, he had seen on the “David Frost Show” on television. ’‘lsn’t Frost a bit of an

odd ball?” asked Mr John Rooney (Democrat, New York), who is chairman of the House Appropriations Sub-committee.

“His show is a haven for way-out people,” interjected Mr Robert Sikes (Democrat, Florida). Mr Hoover said: "I have watched the show several times out of curiosity. I wanted to see and hear certain individual guests. But all I know about Mr Frost is that he is an Englishman who commutes between London and New York every week for his television shows.” Referring, in reply to a question from Mr Rooney about the recent visit to America by the British member of Parliament, Miss Bernadette Devlin, Mr Hoover said: “I do not know why the State Department granted the visa for her to come over here, but it did. She has been in the country collecting large sums of money for her cause in Northern Ireland. She speaks in a very violent manner.” Mr Rooney had prefaced his question by saying that he believed Miss Devlin had stirred up trouble. “She spoke so eloquently with regard to the black militants, Angela Davis and Bobby Seale, a re-

tired policeman friend of mine, Mike Dowd, who used to be assigned here in Congress by the Metropolitan Police, had a heart attack and died listening to her,” he said. The cost of the four armoured limousines that take Mr Hoover around Washington, New York and Los Angeles was also raised at the hearing. “There has been some comment in the press about these vehicles,” said Mr Robert Sikes (Democrat, Florida).

Mr Hoover told the committee: “The armoured vehicles are used for protective purposes”; and his assistant, Mr Clyde Tolson, added, “During last year alone Mr Hoover received 26 threats on his life, and so far this year, he has received another 16. It is necessary for security reasons for Mr Hoover to be transported in these vehicles.” Mr Sikes: “I can understand how it is necessary that you have an armoured vehicle available for your protection.” Mr Hoover was at this stage of the hearing testifying on behalf of an F. 8.1. budget request of about SUS333m for 1971-72, an increase of about SUS3Om.