In the early 1920's, the potential effectiveness of the FBI was hampered as many law enforcement officers entered into corrupt relationships with dishonest politicians and organized crime gangs. Hoover whipped the bureau into shape by firing masses of political hacks and carefully screening new recruits. The FBI became a small, efficient force that waited a chance to battle the criminal element that reigned on America's streets. When Congress lifted limitations on the authority of FBI agents to carry weapons and make arrests, Hoover and his G-men ruthlessly pursued and apprehended many of America's most notorious gangsters. The author explores the obstacles to pursuing justice during the years of the Great Depression and describes Hoover's mystique and force of personality that transformed the FBI into a disciplined law enforcement unit that prided itself on integrity and a tireless devotion to duty. Chapter notes