tations were supposed to be made on the basis of endangering the function and stability of the nation, Hoover did not look into so much as what the people had done or might do, but who the people were and what their background was. His conservative views were beginning to shine through as liberal and radical groups began to take notice to the efforts that he was putting forth to try and weed out any harmful pieces of society. This starts the controversy that was the life of J. Edgar Hoover incorporating any means necessary to achieve his goals. Unfortunately for the eager young Hoover, the tide of politics was changing and he would soon face some very difficult hurdles.Shortly after the arrests were made of the 3000 people accused of being communist (known as the Palmer Raids), Congress began to call into question the techniques used by the Justice Department and the Bureau of Investigation. There was a hearing in the House involving both Hoover and Attorney General Palmer at that time they both passed the buck to each other claiming that neither of them had authorized any illegal arrests or violations of privacy. Palmer eventually fell out of favor with the administration, but was soon replaced anyway when Harding and the Republicans took office in 1920. The question at this time was whether Hoover would be able to survive not only the publicized hearings, but also the change in party power. 1921 had seen a decline in the Red Scare and any association with the Palmer Raids had become a liability. Hoover therefore had to separate himself from this issue and try to conform to the new administration. He bluntly denied responsibility for the raids and type of excess that went with them. Many times he let it be known that he was a Republican at heart, even though as a resident of the District he could not vote. Some how this and his ability to present himself as a type of scientific administrator that could aid in the new administration's ...
