Hoover had been trained throughout high school and college to do just that: to respond with discipline, fortitude, clear analysis, and good sportsmanship to the many challenges that life was bound to present. Instead he viewed Post’s challenge as a personal affront, to be crushed as swiftly and firmly as possible. For the first time, Hoover helped to mobilize federal agents to gather intelligence on his critics, a practice that would later become routine at his Bureau.
