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50 Insane Declassified FBI Secrets You Didn’t Know

The Infographics Show・24 minutes read

The FBI has a rich history of investigations, including probing into rumors of Hitler's survival, monitoring public figures like Charlie Chaplin and Steve Jobs, and even exploring unconventional topics like ESP and Bigfoot. Despite their extensive work, the FBI's rivalry with the CIA has sometimes led to missed opportunities in crucial cases like the 9/11 attacks, showcasing the challenges of balancing domestic and international security.

Insights

  • The FBI has a long history of investigating a wide range of individuals, from political activists like Jane Addams and Charlie Chaplin to influential figures like Bernard Baruch and George Steinbrenner, showcasing the agency's broad scope and varied interests.
  • Despite the FBI's extensive investigations into unconventional topics like Bigfoot and ESP, they ultimately prioritize tangible evidence and scientific support, as seen in their inconclusive findings on these subjects, highlighting a commitment to empirical data and rigorous analysis in their operations.

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Recent questions

  • What did the FBI investigate about Adolf Hitler?

    His rumored survival post-World War II.

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Summary

00:00

Declassified FBI Secrets: History Revealed

  • The FBI has declassified many documents, revealing secrets from its history.
  • The FBI investigated rumors of Adolf Hitler's survival after World War II but confirmed his death.
  • J. Robert Oppenheimer's wife was investigated by the FBI due to her past communist ties.
  • The FBI detained Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, and Italian-Americans during World War II.
  • Bernard Baruch, a key figure in two world wars, was investigated by the FBI but found clean.
  • The FBI conducted background checks on former Nazis recruited after the war for US programs.
  • The FBI's SOLO operation placed agents within the Communist Party to prevent espionage.
  • The FBI conducted Black Bag Operations, breaking into locations for evidence until 1972.
  • Jane Addams, a peace activist, was monitored by the FBI for her anti-war beliefs.
  • The FBI investigated Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies during the Vietnam War protests.

11:43

FBI Files on Famous Figures

  • Charlie Chaplin, known for his silent films, was a vocal political activist and was believed to be a communist sympathizer, leading to FBI scrutiny.
  • Truman Capote, a left-wing activist, gained a large FBI file due to spreading rumors about J. Edgar Hoover's personal life.
  • Rock Hudson, a closeted gay man, was investigated by the FBI, with a redacted 34-page file raising questions about their interest in him.
  • Jackie Robinson, famous for breaking baseball's color barrier, attracted FBI attention due to his support for a Harlem facility with communist ties.
  • George Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, had an extensive FBI file due to illegal donations and financial dealings.
  • Steve Jobs was investigated by the FBI in 1991, revealing his experimentation with LSD and reputation as a liar.
  • Helen Keller, a feminist and socialist, had a 45-page FBI file due to her activism and opposition to President Wilson's policies.
  • Al Capone, the notorious gangster, was monitored by the FBI for tax evasion, leading to his downfall.
  • Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice, cooperated with the FBI to protect the NAACP from communist accusations.
  • Gene Siskel, the film critic, had a one-page FBI file congratulating him on winning an award, showcasing a lighter side of FBI investigations.

23:16

FBI's Bigfoot Hunt and ESP Investigation

  • The FBI investigated the legend of Bigfoot in the 1970s, searching for evidence like hairs, footprints, and waste material. In 1976, they found long hairs that couldn't be identified with any known species, leading to an inconclusive result.
  • The FBI vault mentions ESP as a perception of information beyond the senses or past knowledge, but after a three-year investigation, they concluded there was no scientific support for ESP.
  • The FBI and CIA, despite handling domestic and international affairs respectively, often act as bitter rivals, hindering cooperation and potentially missing opportunities, especially in cases like the 9/11 attacks where international threats target the US homeland.
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