alternatehistory.com

J Edgard Hoover allgedely had a long running affair with his Deputy Clyde Tolson and both were cross dressers. Hoover amassed a great deal of information about the private lives of American politicians placing him in a position of strength enabling him to survive changes in administrations yet if his secrets had been discovered his position would quickly become untenable.

It is thought that the Mafia was aware of this and it is concievable that an arm of the British Secret Service, possibly William Stevenson's outfit were alsio aware but it was in the interests of neither to reveal it as it gave them a hold of Hoover. There is an interesting Sliders episode in which Hoover has siezed power and the police are referred to as thety wear skirts in the continuum.

Rossevelt instructed Hoover to turn a blind eye to British activities in the United States prior to Pearl Harbour including assassination of Nazi agents, interference in union elections. Did Roosevelt have sufficient authority to give Hoover the orders given that Hoover had a hold on most Presidents or was Hoover being blackmailed? Hoover is generally regarded as evil by commentators on American history including the late Alistair Cooke

However let us suppose Hoover was outed and effectively finished what would be the effect?

In the earlier stages the FBI would have been more effective in fighting organised crime. Prior to 1941 would Britain have had as much cooperation from the FBI or would Roosevelt have instructed the replacement head to give Britain a free hand and pass on relevant information

After 1945 it is concievable that the unions would be stronger as there would be little FBI harassment againsrt genuine labour activists and more concentration on mafia infiltration of unions which did more damage than a handful of communists. The AFL-CIO might have a more powerful voice although its numbers would probably have declined?

On a lighter note you can watch the Lone Ranger with a clear conscience as it was one of Hoovers few approved TV programmes.

These are a few suggestions rather more plausible than Hoover coming out
Top