Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave 1933-1934

El Kabong · 02-22-2008 09:58 PM

Guys I just started reading this book by Brian Burrough and it is AWESOME it's got all your favorite gangsters in it: Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde, The Barker-Karpis Gang, Machine Gun Kelly.

It's about these bank robbers and the creation of the FBI...it's really amazing how bad things were, people wanted FDR to become a dictator and put martial law in place....instead he repealed Prohibition and the IRS agents who busted the bootleggers were let go and eventually were taken in by the FBI.

This book really puts to bed the myths and misconceptions everyone has about these bank robbers AND it's being made into what seems to be a fucking killer film: Michael Mann will direct it, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and a lot of other good actors are already attached to the project that will come out next summer

**Canvasback** · 02-22-2008 11:21 PM

Hpoefully it also tells the truth about J. Edgar Hoover who was a master at public relations when it came to promoting his beloved FBI. He was also a gay crossdresser who had dirt on just about all public figures who lived during his time. The movie "The FBI Story" and the tv series "The FBI" each had to have their scripts approved by Hoover before being shown. If you listen to Hoover's version of history the FBI beat the criminals, espionage in WWII, the commies in the 50's and the hippies and anti-war protesters in the 60 and 70's. I firmly believe the only reason Nixon allowed him to stay as director after he turned 70 yoa was because he had some damaging info on Nixon.

El Kabong · 02-22-2008 11:32 PM

it tells about Hoover to an extent, it's more of a story of the previously unnamed agents that were on the frontlines to the war on crime.

In the move Johnny Depp will play Dillinger and Christian Bale will play FBI agent Melvin Purvis.

Reading the book you really get the vibe that J. Edgar Hoover was a "screamin queen"....he absolutely despised Ma Barker and Machine Gun Kelly's wife Kathryn describing them as vile and evil criminal masterminds.....when in all actuality they were totally innocent with the exception of knowing what their family members did for a living.

**Canvasback** · 02-22-2008 11:43 PM

I dno't know if the book covers it, but my favorite Hoover story has to do with when he was before some congressional committee and one of the members asked him if he ever arrested anyone. Hoover said he hadn't and then immediately instructed his agents to get Machine Gun Kelly. According to legend Hoover was safely around the corner of a building when the agents grabbed Kelly. Hoover then yelled out "You're under arrest." Nobody had any handcuffs so they had to use a necktie instead. Allegedly the carload of Kelly, Hoover and the agents also got lost trying to find the local police precinct. Funny stuff if it's true.

El Kabong · 02-22-2008 11:57 PM

They definently had their fair share of Keystone Cops moments.

They weren't allowed to carry guns to begin with AND it wasn't a federal crime to kill a federal agent....although that changed after the Kansas City Massacre (not to be confused with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre).

The Bureau of Investigation was close to being shut down but Hoover's lust for power made him figure out ways to keep it relevant and needed in that era all through his tenure.

They didn't need warrants for wire taps back then either