Born and bred in Washington, D.C., he believed in the power of the federal government to do great things and fight great battles on behalf of the nation’s citizens. He also believed that there were certain groups—communists and racial minorities, above all—who threatened that project. His career reflected both themes: a faith in progressive, expert-driven government and a commitment to an avenging social conservatism. His genius came in amassing enough power to promote and enforce those ideas as he saw fit.
