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Laugh trackers

From a recently declassified FBI memo concerning a March 8, 1971, episode of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, a television show broadcast by NBC. At director J. Edgar Hoover’s request, a recording of the show was filed in the FBI’s Crime Research Section. Hoover’s Counter Intelligence Program, designed to “disrupt” groups and “neutralize” individuals deemed to be threats to domestic security, conducted more than 2,000 operations between 1956 and 1971, when it was officially discontinued after being exposed in the press.

A skit concerning the FBI was performed. It was introduced by a shorter skit representing a President and First Lady sitting in the White House chatting. Between them was a large vase of flowers. When their conversation turned to the Director, it was made obvious that one of the flowers was actually a bugging device and the President spoke directly to Mr. Hoover by means of this device.

The longer skit was unified by means of a production-type number consisting of cheerleaders, complete with sweaters emblazoned with “fbi,” who sang a “fight song” pertaining to the FBI. This “song,” satirical in nature, was interrupted by various minor skits and short gag situations, all bearing on the FBI.

A great deal of what purported to be humor related to the Director and his age. For example, the statement, “I don’t believe that just because the Director of the FBI is named Hoover that there has been a vacuum in that Department for years.” A particularly vicious attack was made by means of a knock-knock joke in which the answer to “Who is there?” is “Hoover.” In reply to the question “Hoover who?” a play on words is made in the statement: “Hoover heard of a seventy-six-year-old policeman?” Another sick-type joke pertaining to the Director was an announcement that “J. Edgar Hoover retired one half-hour ago but will be back at his desk first thing in the morning.”

Although jokes and sight gags were made in rapid fashion, emphasis was placed on surveillance-type activities and clandestine-type operations. In one minor skit, two Agents were portrayed meeting and being extremely guarded in their conversation with each other, with each trying to elicit information from the other.

All in all, this skit pertaining to the FBI was rather typical of the poor fare that is served on this so-called laugh show, a show that has gained some considerable notoriety by its risqué jokes and irreverent satirical attacks. Tasteless, sometimes downright vicious jokes and a great deal of forced humor add up to a more telling commentary on this low-grade show itself than on the FBI.

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SEE ALSO: Intelligence service; Official secrets; Records and correspondence; United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation

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