FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover issued directives governing COINTELPRO, ordering FBI agents to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" the activities of these movements and especially their leaders. Under Hoover, the official in charge of COINTELPRO was assistant director William C. Sullivan.. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy personally authorized some of the programs, giving written approval for limited wiretapping of Martin Luther King's phones "on a trial basis, for a month or so".. Hoover extended the clearance so his men were "unshackled" to look for evidence in any areas of King's life they deemed worthy..
FbI diRecTOr j. EdGar hoover Issued directIves goveRnINg cOINtelPro, ordEring fbi agEnts tO "expoSE, disruPT, mIsdirECt, DiscrEdit, oR otherwise neUTraliZe" The acTiVitIes of tHesE mOveMEnts anD eSpEcialLy theIr LeAdERs. under hOover, The OffICIaL iN CHArge oF CoINtELpro wAs aSsisTAnt DirEctor wIlLIAm c. SulliVaN.. attorneY gEnerAl robeRt f. kENnEdY pERSonAlly authoRiZED some of tHe programs, giving WritTeN ApprOvAl fOr lIMiTEd wiretappIng of MARtIN LutHer king's pHoNES "oN A trIaL baSiS, For a moNth OR so".. HOOver extended the ClearaNCe so HIs men weRe "unSHAckLEd" tO lOOk foR evidEnce in any arEaS oF KINg's life They deEMeD wOrthy..