Photo by Original photographer unknown – e24.se, attributed to Scanpixtrelleborgsallehanda.se, Public Domain, Link
The notorious J. Edgar Hoover served as the first Director of the FBI until his death in 1972 – a whopping 37 years. Scandals, for example, shielding mob interests from FBI enforcement, creating COINTELPRO and its mass surveillance, and hounding the alleged dissident Black Panther Party, mark his career: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Edgar_Hoover In 1968, Chicago and Mayor Richard J. Daley hosted the tumultuous Democratic National Convention. (Later that year, Norman Mailer, at the pinnacle of his career, wrote a slim book called Miami and the Siege of Chicago.) In the convention’s aftermath, the government charged Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, Tom Hayden, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Lee Weiner (collectively, the “Chicago 7”) with numerous charges, e.g., incitement and conspiracy. With Black Panther co-founder, Bobby Seale, the sad tale became the “Chicago 8.” Judge Julius Hoffman ordered Mr. Seale to be gagged and shackled in the courtroom. All defendants were jailed for contempt of court, including their attorneys. In response, efforts began to raise funds on behalf of the Chicago 8 to cover legal expenses.*
Hoover’s FBI caught wind of the fundraising efforts. In the FBI’s file of James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix, https://vault.fbi.gov/james-marshall-jimi-hendrix/James%20Marshall%20%28Jimi%29%20Hendrix%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29/view , page 24 noted that the bi-weekly Chicago Kaleidoscope newspaper, which the FBI characterized as “New Left underground,” mentioned that Hendrix had volunteered to perform at a benefit concert (page 25). Thus began the FBI’s surveillance of Hendrix. It collected history from Jimi’s days in Seattle and New York City. The FBI Included in its Hendrix file one page-where Hendrix is listed (page 29)-from its assessment of the historic 1968 Woodstock concert. This page is a must read due to the characterizations of “uninhibited rock music,” “music, so-called, unleashed the most unconstrained and lewd behavior. To the repetitious thudding of drums males and females would become involved in strange sexual gyrations,’ and one man wore only a loin cloth. Concert attendees received “thousands of free meals (boiled rice, lettuce and raisins).”
Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970. His FBI file ended on June 17, 1971, with the notation that Seattle’s Sultan Theater intended to host a “memorial show” for Hendrix.
*All of the defendants were charged with and acquitted of conspiracy. Some of the defendants were convicted on other counts. More information here.
