FBI Break-Ins, Wiretaps, and Bugs FBI Files

Description

FBI Surveillance Tactics: 1950s-1970s

Timeline of Main Events (1950s – 1970s)

This timeline focuses on the FBI’s use of “surreptitious entries,” wiretaps, and bugs as described in the provided source.

• 1950s: The provided document indicates that the files contain administrative material and policy documents dating back to this period concerning surreptitious entries conducted by the FBI. This suggests the FBI was actively developing and employing these techniques during this decade.
• 1960s: The files include summaries of surreptitious entries conducted against various targets during this decade. The document also notes FBI reporting covering the early use of wiretaps and microphone eavesdropping. The policy of Attorney General Robert Kennedy regarding these techniques is also mentioned. Organizations frequently targeted during this period include:
• Fair Play For Cuba Committee
• Progressive Labor Party
• Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
• Students for A Democratic Society (SDS)
• Socialist Workers Party
• Weather Underground (Weatherman)
• Young Socialist Alliance
• Vietnam Veterans Against The War
• 1970s:Many documents from this decade cover the FBI’s internal review of “surreptitious entries,” which they previously referred to as “black bag jobs.” This review was prompted by a lawsuit filed by the Socialist Workers Party.
• The scrutiny of these activities led to the Socialist Workers Party winning damages in court.
• Two senior FBI officials were convicted for illegal operations against the Weather Underground.
• The files also contain information regarding legal interpretations of wiretapping and eavesdropping allowances, problems involving trespass, the use of microphones in criminal investigations and surveillance of diplomatic personnel.

Cast of Characters

This list includes the principal people mentioned directly or indirectly in the context of the FBI’s surveillance activities as described in the source.

• Robert Kennedy: Attorney General of the United States during a portion of the 1960s. His “policy” regarding wiretaps and microphone eavesdropping is mentioned in the files, indicating his involvement in shaping the legal and operational framework for these surveillance techniques.
• Senior FBI Officials (Unspecified Names): The document mentions that two senior FBI officials were convicted for illegal operations against the Weather Underground in the 1970s. These individuals were likely in positions of authority within the Bureau, responsible for overseeing or authorizing the “surreptitious entries” and related activities.

FBI Break-Ins, Wiretaps, and Bugs FBI Files

3692 pages of files copied from FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., covering FBI Break-ins (referred to by the bureau as “surreptitious entries”), wiretaps, and bugs. The files consist of administrative material and policy documents dating from the 1950’s to 1970’s concerning surreptitious entries conducted by the FBI.

Although this file is not a comprehensive record of all the break-ins conducted by the FBI during the period covered by the files, even an incomplete file provides insights into the scope and underlying purposes of the FBI’s use of this technique. Accordingly, a variety of research projects can be serviced by consulting this file. For one, historians of the FBI will be able to understand better the FBI’s surveillance objectives, the policies governing the FBI’s monitoring of radical political activities, and the kind of information senior FBI officials sought about radical activities and organizations.

Files contain approximately 1,100 narrative pages, which give an overview of the theory and motivation for surreptitious entries. Many documents from the 1970’s cover the FBI review of “surreptitious entries”, which it once called black bag jobs, due to a lawsuit filed by Socialist Workers Party. Scrutiny of this activity lead to the Socialist Workers Party winning damages in court and two senior FBI officials being convicted for illegal operations against the Weather Underground.

Includes summaries of entries against several targets in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Contains FBI reporting covering early use of wire taps and microphone eavesdropping, legal interpretations of the allowance of such techniques, problems involving trespass, use of microphone in criminal investigations and surveillance of diplomatic personnel, and the policy of Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

Often mention organizations include Fair Play For Cuba Committee, Progressive Labor Party, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Students for A Democratic Society (SDS), Socialist Workers Party, Weather Underground (Weatherman), Young Socialist Alliance, and Vietnam Veterans Against The War.