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The Birth of the FBI: Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency
Most people believe the Federal Bureau of Investigation began under J. Edgar Hoover in the 1920s or 1930s. Many also naturally assume it was developed for the express purpose of fighting crime. However, the reality is very different.
The reality is it began years earlier, in 1908, under President Theodore Roosevelt. In The Birth of the Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency, Willard Oliver details the political fight that led to the birth of America’s premier law enforcement agency. Roosevelt was concerned about conservation and one issue he wanted enforced were the fraudulent land deals being perpetrated by many people, including some members of Congress. When he began using the Secret Service to investigate these crimes, Congress blocked him from doing so. The end result of this political spat was Roosevelt’s creation of the FBI, which heightened the political row between the two branches of government in the final year of Roosevelt’s presidency.
The truth of the matter is, the premier law enforcement agency in the United States was actually created because of a political fight between the executive and legislative branches of government. The Birth of the FBI reveals the true story behind the birth of the FBI and provides some useful insight into an important part of our American history.
The reality is it began years earlier, in 1908, under President Theodore Roosevelt. In The Birth of the Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency, Willard Oliver details the political fight that led to the birth of America’s premier law enforcement agency. Roosevelt was concerned about conservation and one issue he wanted enforced were the fraudulent land deals being perpetrated by many people, including some members of Congress. When he began using the Secret Service to investigate these crimes, Congress blocked him from doing so. The end result of this political spat was Roosevelt’s creation of the FBI, which heightened the political row between the two branches of government in the final year of Roosevelt’s presidency.
The truth of the matter is, the premier law enforcement agency in the United States was actually created because of a political fight between the executive and legislative branches of government. The Birth of the FBI reveals the true story behind the birth of the FBI and provides some useful insight into an important part of our American history.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 27, 2025
Very fun, very digestible American law enforcement history that really hits its stride a few chapters in once it finds its hero in TR. I think the book is a bit scattershot and in an identity crisis, covering the secret service more than the bureau of investigations, let alone the FBI that is its title’s centerpiece. But, “The Birth of the FBI
Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency” is plenty accurate when taken in full. I really enjoyed this book and the smooth baritone of narrator Dean made it a joy.
Teddy Roosevelt, the Secret Service, and the Fight Over America's Premier Law Enforcement Agency” is plenty accurate when taken in full. I really enjoyed this book and the smooth baritone of narrator Dean made it a joy.
May 29, 2020
The True Story of the Birth of FBI
In his masterfully written narrative Willard M. Oliver dispels the myth about the creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has been closely associated with its most famous director, J. Edgar Hoover, whom many consider the creator and first director of the agency.
Oliver revives the forgotten history of the FBI (originally called The Bureau of Investigation), which traces back to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who created it with the help of Charles Joseph Bonaparte, his attorney general.
In “The Birth of FBI” the author takes an unusual position, arguing that the FBI is not an apolitical governmental bureaucracy as it is believed by many.
Willard M. Oliver shows us how the Bureau of Investigation originated exactly from a political controversy, “a fight over the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government”.
When Theodore Roosevelt came into office, his main goals were to fight corruption and preserve the environment. Borrowing Secret Service operatives, the President started investigating fraudulent land deals, in which some of the Congress members were directly involved. After Congressman James A. Tawney attached an amendment to an appropriations bill preventing Roosevelt from using the Secret Service, the President created the Bureau of Investigation in response.
The importance of Oliver’s book is its thorough analysis of the antecedents of the fight between Theodore Roosevelt and the Congress, without which this controversy would have been hard to understand. Starting with the drafting of the Constitution, when the Founding Fathers have failed to empower any agency to enforce federal laws, “The Birth of FBI” examines the era of the US Marshal Service and – later – the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the United States Secret Service.
With an impressive bibliography, interesting revelations, and absorbing narrative, Willard M. Oliver’s work is a must read for anyone who wants to learn about the real origins of the FBI.
In his masterfully written narrative Willard M. Oliver dispels the myth about the creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has been closely associated with its most famous director, J. Edgar Hoover, whom many consider the creator and first director of the agency.
Oliver revives the forgotten history of the FBI (originally called The Bureau of Investigation), which traces back to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who created it with the help of Charles Joseph Bonaparte, his attorney general.
In “The Birth of FBI” the author takes an unusual position, arguing that the FBI is not an apolitical governmental bureaucracy as it is believed by many.
Willard M. Oliver shows us how the Bureau of Investigation originated exactly from a political controversy, “a fight over the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government”.
When Theodore Roosevelt came into office, his main goals were to fight corruption and preserve the environment. Borrowing Secret Service operatives, the President started investigating fraudulent land deals, in which some of the Congress members were directly involved. After Congressman James A. Tawney attached an amendment to an appropriations bill preventing Roosevelt from using the Secret Service, the President created the Bureau of Investigation in response.
The importance of Oliver’s book is its thorough analysis of the antecedents of the fight between Theodore Roosevelt and the Congress, without which this controversy would have been hard to understand. Starting with the drafting of the Constitution, when the Founding Fathers have failed to empower any agency to enforce federal laws, “The Birth of FBI” examines the era of the US Marshal Service and – later – the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the United States Secret Service.
With an impressive bibliography, interesting revelations, and absorbing narrative, Willard M. Oliver’s work is a must read for anyone who wants to learn about the real origins of the FBI.
January 13, 2022
When I finally decided to give this book a try, what really sold me was the author's argument that the creation of the FBI had its roots in the investigation of fraud in federal land sales; a topic which needs a modern study. However, the story that Oliver really wants to tell is that of the evolution of federal police services, from the U.S. Marshals, to the Pinkertons, to the Secret Service, until one arrives at the Bureau of Investigation. Apart from that, the real meat of this book is Teddy Roosevelt's feud with such high-level members of Congress such as Rep. James A. Tawney (Chairman of the Appropriations Committee) and Sen. Ben "Pitchfork" Tillman; men who were determined to keep the power of the president under control, and maintain the authority of the states. It's an okay study, but not really what I was looking for. As for my rating, it's better than two stars, but not enough to hand out three.
May 29, 2020
The author clearly had issues to distinguishe what to put and what to put aside. Hence he was all over the place.
January 7, 2021
I enjoyed the first half of the book but unfortunately once it got to its main focus, the birth of the fbi, it became rather boring and repetitive. It basically details the fight between TR and congress over the secret service. But the details are mostly just letters and speeches given by both sides in their arguments which is not very interesting (to me) and doesnt provide for page turning material.
However its a book where TR plays a big part so he always finds a way to make things interesting.
However its a book where TR plays a big part so he always finds a way to make things interesting.
August 19, 2021
The premise is that Teddy Roosevelt and not J. Edgar Hoover was responsible for the existence of the FBI. The Secret Service began before Lincoln was inaugurated to combat counterfeiting. It took the assassination of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley before anyone really thought about an organization to investigate other crimes.
A matter of fact telling. No frills. Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.
A matter of fact telling. No frills. Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.
July 15, 2022
Interesting book but...
An entire chapter on James Tawney? In short, the book was waaaay too long and much detail could have been eliminated.
This is no reflection on the author but the typos and edits that should have been caught by a good proofreader were astronomical, considering I paid full price for this hardback. They took away from enjoyment of the story.
It's an ok book and I'll put it in my TR collection but it was a struggle to get through.
An entire chapter on James Tawney? In short, the book was waaaay too long and much detail could have been eliminated.
This is no reflection on the author but the typos and edits that should have been caught by a good proofreader were astronomical, considering I paid full price for this hardback. They took away from enjoyment of the story.
It's an ok book and I'll put it in my TR collection but it was a struggle to get through.
May 2, 2023
4.5 stars
It was interesting to get a lot of back story on how the FBI came about including a lot of fighting within Congress. There were a few times I tried to decide if what the author was writing had anything to do with the thesis of their book. I realized you have to go back to George Washington to really understand how the Secret Service, Pinkertons, and others led to the creation of the FBI.
The narrator kept the story interesting and thus engaged me.
It was interesting to get a lot of back story on how the FBI came about including a lot of fighting within Congress. There were a few times I tried to decide if what the author was writing had anything to do with the thesis of their book. I realized you have to go back to George Washington to really understand how the Secret Service, Pinkertons, and others led to the creation of the FBI.
The narrator kept the story interesting and thus engaged me.
February 9, 2020
Fascinating.
Mr. Oliver’s book documents the history and the politics which resulted in the FBI being created pretty much by accident.
It is also an excellent example of the unintended consequences of one’s actions.
And of course it brings to light yet another example of Theodore Roosevelt’s genius.
Worth your time.
Mr. Oliver’s book documents the history and the politics which resulted in the FBI being created pretty much by accident.
It is also an excellent example of the unintended consequences of one’s actions.
And of course it brings to light yet another example of Theodore Roosevelt’s genius.
Worth your time.
February 19, 2022
This book was a great history lesson and makes for great supplementary reading material to unlock a better understanding of the full story. It gives you the political background of what was going on behind the scene during the birth of the FBI. There were a lot of political strings being pulled, and a lot of other cases that warranted the need for an Federal bureau, but this book outlines the fight Teddy Roosevelt had to endure to get it approved by Congress.
Although other books such as Killers of the Flower Moon Osage Indian killings claim to be the start of the FBI, the actual FBI birthdate in July of 1908, precedes the Osage murders by at least one year.
Although other books such as Killers of the Flower Moon Osage Indian killings claim to be the start of the FBI, the actual FBI birthdate in July of 1908, precedes the Osage murders by at least one year.
July 22, 2022
The birth of the FBI is what this book is the least about. At times, I forgot what it was about. In an effort to include more background information, the author goes on rabbit holes and on side stories that have little relevance to the original topics. Had he stayed on task, book would have been only a third the size.
January 12, 2020
Very informative
May 19, 2020
This book gave me a lot of interesting insight to T. Roosevelt and explored a side of him I hadn't read much about...
May 5, 2024
A very interesting book of an American President's role in the US
November 8, 2020
This is more than just a historical account of how and why the FBI was created. It is a history lesson how American law enforcement developed from the early 17th Century up to the formation of the FBI in 1908.
I found it fascinating in learning the development of Federal law enforcement and how political it became, culminating in Theodore Roosevelt, the US President of the US in the very early 1900’s, being forced to create this new Agency.
Yes, it’s a bit disjointed at time, but if you enjoy learning about the early history of American and US law enforcement, this is a must read.
I found it fascinating in learning the development of Federal law enforcement and how political it became, culminating in Theodore Roosevelt, the US President of the US in the very early 1900’s, being forced to create this new Agency.
Yes, it’s a bit disjointed at time, but if you enjoy learning about the early history of American and US law enforcement, this is a must read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews