J. Edgar Hoover Plus 40 Years

You may recall hearing of J. Edgar Hoover. He ran both the FBI and its predecessor from 1924 until he finally died in 1972. He was pretty much a power-hungry fascist, who used his private files as a subtle blackmailing tool to keep Congress and the White House in line. Most of his private files were never found, his long-time companion and alleged lover Clyde Tolson supposedly destroyed every one that he could.

Hoover is why FBI directors are limited to ten-year terms.

And the example of the power amassed by Hoover may be instructive as to why Congress is so unwilling to take on the NSA.