◆ SpookStack

Americans to “avoid reporting malicious gossip or idle rumors." The FBI’s authority to conduct background investigations on present and prospective government employees also expanded dramatically in the postwar years. The 1946 Atomic Energy Act gave - the FBI "responsibility for determining the loyalty of individuals s--having access to restricted Atomic Energy data." Later, executive orders from both Presidents Truman and Eisenhower gave the FBI responsibility for investigating allegations of disloyalty , among federal employees. In these cases, the agency requesting the investigation made the final determination; the FBI only conducted the investigation and reported the results. ; Many suspected and convicted spies, such as Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, had been federal employees. Therefore, background investigations were considered to be just es vital as cracking major espionage cases. Despite the threats to the United States of subversion and espionage, the FBI’s extended jurisdiction, and the time- consuming nature of background investigations, the Bureau did not Surpess the number of Agents it had during World War II--or its yearly wartime budget--until the Korean War in the early 1650s. After the Korean War ended, the number of Agents stabilized at about 6,200, while the budget began a steady climb in 1957. Several factors converged to undermine domestic Communism in the 1950s. Situations like the Soviet defeat of the Hungarian rebellion in 1956 caused many members to abandon the American Communist Party. However, the FBI also played a role in Giminishing Party influence. The Bureau was responsible for the investigation and arrest of alleged spies and Smith Act violators, most of whom were convicted. Through Hoover’s speeches, articles, testimony, and books like Masters of Deceit, the FBI helped alert the public to the Communist threat. The FBI’s role in fighting crime also expanded in the postwar period through its assistance to state and local law enforcement and through increased jurisdictional responsibility. Advances in forensic, science and technical development enabled the FEI to devote a sicNificant prorertion of its resources to assisting state and local law enforcement agencies. One method cf continuing assistance was through the National Academy. Another was to use its greater resources to help states and localities solve their cases. A dramatic example of aid to a state Occurred after the midair explosion of a plane over Colorado in 1955, The FBI Laboratory examined hundreds of airplane parts, pieces of cargo, and the personal effects of passengers. It pieced tcecgether evidence of a bomb explosion from passenger luggage, then il