Clyde Tolson

Clyde Tolson
Associate Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
In office 1930–1972
President	Herbert Hoover Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon
Director	J. Edgar Hoover
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Mark Felt
Personal details
Born	(1900-05-22)May 22, 1900 Laredo, Missouri, U.S.
Died	Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	George Washington University George Washington University School of Law

Clyde Anderson Tolson (May 22, 1900 – April 14, 1975) was Associate Director of the FBI from 1930 until 1972, primarily responsible for personnel and discipline. He is best known as the protégé and intimate companion of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

Early life

Tolson was born in Laredo, Missouri. He graduated from Laredo High School in 1915 and attended Cedar Rapids Business College from which he graduated in 1918. From 1919 to 1928, he was confidential secretary for three Secretaries of War: Newton D. Baker, John W. Weeks, and Dwight F. Davis. Tolson completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at George Washington University in 1925 and a law degree in 1927. While attending the George Washington University, Tolson became a member of the Delta Pi Chapter of The Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Career

In April 1928, Tolson applied to F.B.I. and was hired as a Special Agent later that month. Tolson reportedly indicated on his application that he wanted to use the job as a stepping stone to gain experience and earn enough money to open a law practice in Cedar Rapids. After working in the Boston and Washington, D.C., field offices, he became the chief FBI clerk and was promoted to assistant director in 1930.

In 1936, Tolson joined Hoover to arrest bank robber Alvin Karpis; later that year, Tolson was in a gunfight with gangster Harry Brunette. In 1942, Tolson participated in capturing Nazi saboteurs on Long Island and Florida. In 1947, he was made FBI Associate Director with duties in budget and administration.

Relationship with Hoover

Clyde Tolson (left) with J. Edgar Hoover

It has been stated that J. Edgar Hoover described Tolson as his alter ego: "They rode to and from work together, ate lunch together, traveled together on official business, and even vacationed together." Rumors circulated for years that the two bachelors had a romantic relationship. Some authors dismissed the rumors about Hoover's sexual orientation and possible intimate relationship with Tolson, while others have described them as probable or even "confirmed", while others reported the rumors without stating an opinion.

When Hoover died, Tolson inherited his estate of US$551,000 and moved into his house; he accepted the U.S. flag draped on Hoover's coffin.

Later years

In 1964, Tolson suffered a stroke, and as a result, remained somewhat frail for the remainder of his life. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded him a gold medal for distinguished federal civilian service saying Tolson “has been a vital force in raising the proficiency of law enforcement at all levels and in guiding the Federal Bureau of Investigation to new heights of accomplishment through periods of great National challenge.” Hoover kept Tolson employed in the FBI even after he became too old for police duty and past retirement age.

After Hoover's death on May 2, 1972, Tolson was briefly the acting head of the FBI. L. Patrick Gray became director on May 3. That same day, Tolson contacted Mark Felt and instructed him to write his letter of resignation. Citing ill health, Tolson retired from the bureau on May 4, the day of Hoover's funeral. Mark Felt was appointed to Tolson's position.

Death

Tolson's headstone at the Congressional Cemetery

After Tolson's departure from FBI, his health began to decline. On April 10, 1975, Tolson was admitted to Doctors Community Hospital in Washington, D.C. for renal failure. He died there four days later of heart failure at the age of 74. Tolson is buried in the Congressional Cemetery near J. Edgar Hoover's grave.

Depictions in fiction

Tolson has been depicted numerous times in novels, television, and movies, including:

• The 1977 film The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover portrayed by Dan Dailey
• The 1984 TV movie Concealed Enemies portrayed by Ralph Byers
• The 1987 TV movie J. Edgar Hoover portrayed by actor Robert Harper
• The 1992 TV movie Citizen Cohn portrayed by Daniel von Bargen
• The 1994 satirical radio play "J. Edgar," written by Harry Shearer, portrayed by John Goodman
• The 1995 film Nixon portrayed by Brian Bedford
• The 1997 novel Underworld by Don DeLillo
• The 2011 film J. Edgar portrayed by Armie Hammer
• The 2013 TV Movie The Curse of Edgar portrayed by actor Anthony Higgins

External links

• Associate Director Tolson's personnel records and copies of memoranda at FBI's FOIA Website
• NameBase - Clyde Anderson Tolson (Archive)
• Clyde Tolson (Character) at the Internet Movie Database
• Clyde Tolson at the Internet Movie Database