On Friday, October 4, William Sullivan formally recommended that Hoover once again seek Kennedy’s approval for a wiretap on King’s home in Atlanta, “because of the communist influence in the racial movement shown by activities of Stanley Levison as well as King’s connection with him.” The proposal was a watershed for Hoover, especially since Kennedy had turned him down once already in July. “I hope you don’t change your minds on this,” he scribbled to Sullivan in an acid reminder of his brief apostasy. Possibly he was warning Sullivan to prepare for blame if Kennedy again crossed the Bureau on
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