Clyde Tolson
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Clyde Anderson Tolson (May 22, 1900 – April 14, 1975) was associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was primarily responsible for personnel and disciplinary matters in the bureau, rather than crime-fighting. He is best known as the longtime friend of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.
Tolson was born in Laredo, Missouri, and after attending Cedar Rapids Business College in Iowa, began government service as a clerk in the War Department. From 1919 to 1928, he served as confidential secretary for the Secretary of War in three administrations, aiding the efforts of Newton D. Baker, John W. Weeks and Dwight F. Davis.
During this period, Tolson was also completing course work at George Washington University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1925, and a law degree two years later. After failing in his first attempt to join the FBI, he was hired in 1927, seeing the opportunity as a stepping stone to a law practice back in Cedar Rapids. After serving in the Boston and Washington, D.C. field offices, Tolson became the chief FBI clerk, then was promoted to assistant director in 1930.
Tolson joined Hoover in 1936 to take part in the capture and arrest of Alvin Karpis, a notorious bank robber. That same year, Tolson was involved in a shootout with New York gangster Harry Brunette, and in 1942, he reportedly played a key role in the capture of Nazi saboteurs on the coasts of Long Island and Florida. In 1947, Tolson became associate director of the Bureau, working primarily in the areas of administration and budget.
In 1964, he suffered a stroke and remained in ill health for the remainder of his life. Two years later, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson awarded him a gold medal for distinguished Federal civilian service. Even after he had reached the mandatory retirement age in 1970, he was kept on by Hoover.
Tolson became acting director after Hoover's death on May 2, 1972, but resigned and was replaced by L. Patrick Gray the next day [citation needed]. He officially left the FBI two weeks later, leaving operational control of the FBI to third-in-command Mark Felt.
J. Edgar Hoover described Tolson as his alter ego, with the men working closely together during the day, but also took meals, went to night clubs and vacationed together. The close relationship between the two is often cited as evidence of speculation that the two were homosexuals. FBI employees who knew them, such as Felt, claim that the relationship was merely brotherly. Agents also report that Tolson was picked up first and dropped off last by the vehicle that transported Hoover to and from his office every day.
Tolson inherited Hoover's estate worth approximately $551,000 and moved into his home, having also accepted the American flag that draped Hoover's casket. Tolson is buried a few yards away from Hoover in the Congressional Cemetery.
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| Preceded by: J. Edgar Hoover |
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 1972 |
Succeeded by: L. Patrick Gray |
| Directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation |  |
|---|---|
| Finch • Bielaski • Allen • Flynn • Burns • Hoover • Gray • Ruckelshaus • Kelley • Adams • Webster • Otto • Sessions • Clarke • Freeh • Pickard • Mueller |
