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 U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation


 For Immediate Release    Washington, D.C.
 September 30, 1999    FBI National Press Office

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that it has added the following new subject matters to the Historical Interest, Famous Persons, and Violent Crime categories of its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Electronic Reading Room:

HISTORICAL INTEREST

Bowtie (The Profumo Matter) 1150 pages

Bowtie was the FBI's code name for the case of British War Minister John Profumo and London call girl Christine Keeler, who was also involved with a Soviet Military Attache. Profumo resigned his office in June, 1963, when the relationship was revealed.

 

FAMOUS PERSONS

Bertolt Brecht 369 pages

1940's internal security investigation of Bertolt Brecht, author and poet, due to his affiliation with Soviet officials and other known communists.

 

Armand Hammer/Occidental Petroleum 658 pages

Noted entrepreneur and art collector Armand Hammer had extensive import-export dealings with the Soviet Union and personally negotiated with Premier Lenin during the 1920's. He later went into the oil business and became head of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation.

 

 

John Steinbeck 94 pages

Although the Pulitzer Prize winning author was never the subject of an FBI investigation, his name came to the FBI's attention on several occasions during the 1940's through 1960's as a result of his association with communist front groups.

 

J. Edgar Hoover 1662 pages

Official Personnel File of J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI from May 10, 1924, until his death on May 2, 1972.

 

VIOLENT CRIME

 

Sam Giancana 186 pages

1960 report from the anti-racketeering investigation of Sam Giancana, Chicago organized crime boss.


There are now a total of 64 subject matters available to the public on this website. These documents are a representative sampling of those in the FOIA Reading Room located at FBI Headquarters. Portions have been blacked out to protect personal privacy, confidential sources, national security, etc., in accordance with the exemption provisions of the FOIA. The FBI plans to add several new subjects to the Electronic Reading Room on a monthly basis.

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FAS | Government Secrecy | September 1999 News ||| Index | Search | Join FAS