Bad Habits Die Hard

The FBI is accused of political snooping and racial harassment

The old FBI lost its bearings under J. Edgar Hoover, hounding Martin Luther , King Jr. and running wholesale spy operations against groups that opposed the Viet Nam War. A new and improved agency emerged during William Webster's nine years as director. But there was a palpable sense of deja vu in the air last week. First came news that a black agent had been racially harassed by his white colleagues. Then followed charges that the FBI had conducted wide- ranging surveillance of critics of the Reagan Administration's Central American policy.

The racist taunting of Agent Donald Rochon was limited to...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!