J. EDGAR Hoover was an American law enforcement administrator who served as the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1924 to 1972. He was known for his strong and controversial leadership style, which included the use of wiretapping and other surveillance techniques. He was also responsible for the creation of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Hoover was a controversial figure in his time, but is now widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American law enforcement history.