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7341077
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Remarks of the President at the Dedication of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7341077
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document
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Remarks of the President at the Dedication of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7341077
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1975-09-30
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9
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1975
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Digitized from Box 16 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 30, 1975
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
AT THE
DEDICATION OF THE
J. EDGAR HOOVER FBI BUILDING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
11:18 A.M. EDT
Mr. Attorney General, distinguished Members of
the House and Senate, my former colleagues, Al Cederberg,
John Slack, Senators Eastland, Pastore and Hruska -- and
I see in the audience some others -- it is wonderful to
see you all here on this occasion, along with the distin-
guished Director of the FBI, the Administrator of the
General Services Administration, ladies and gentlemen:
Obviously, I am tremendously pleased to join all
of you in the dedication of this truly magnificent building.
It symbolizes the role of the FBI as the bastion of Federal
law enforcement under the Department of Justice. It honors
the memory of a pioneering public servant who served as
Bureau Director for nearly 48 years.
J. Edgar Hoover served under eight Presidents --
Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry
Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson
and Richard Nixon. All had high praise for this man and
his professional achievements, praise which I am pleased
to join in here on this auspicious occasion.
In presenting the Medal of Merit to the FBI
Director for his wartime services, President Truman commended
him for his able leadership, which made the Bureau, in Mr.
Truman's words, "a powerful instrument of law enforcement
in both war and peace."
President Eisenhower awarded Mr. Hoover the
National Security Medal, which carried a citation praising
the Director in these terms -- "He has established the
highest ideals of Federal law enforcement and directed them
to realization."
J. Edgar Hoover earned such praise and such admir-
ation from eight Presidents because under his direction, the
FBI became the superior professional organization it is
today -- and will continue to be under the able leadership
of Clarence Kelley -- with the very best scientific crime
detection facilities to serve the Federal Government and
the American people.
MORE
Page 2
But it is more than leadership and technology that
makes the FBI so successful. It is the spirit of the men
and women who work for this unique American institution --
the Special Agents, legendary symbols of American justice
for decades, the thousands upon thousands of professionals
who back them up and, I add hurriedly, their understanding
families.
Although history records the names of very
few, it is the excellence of the many who make up the
success story of the FBI.
In my 25 years in the Congress and subsequently
as Vice President and as President, I have had the personal
opportunity to work intimately with many of you here today
and, as a result, I have developed a great admiration for
your professional competence and your tireless dedication.
These are the characteristics of the entire FBI team.
The Bureau is a success story because of the
strength and spirit which you bring it. Your dedication,
your discipline, your courage are all ingredients all
Americans admire and respect. Your fellow citizens are
proud of the FBI and we who are honored to serve with you
in Government appreciate your efforts.
In dedicating this new FBI headquarters, I call
for a renewed commitment to the rule of law in America and
to the legal system that perpetuates freedom and justice.
For without law, we have neither freedom nor justice.
Just before he died, J. Edgar Hoover had these
prophetic words to say about the rule of law in America,
and I quote: "The tests of time and challenge in our
Nation's history have more than proven the majesty of the
law."
Mr. Hoover was so right. The continued dedication
of the men and women of the FBI to the preservation of the
rule of law and the protection of citizens' rights will be
a monument even more enduring than this imposing building.
In a very real sense, we are gathered here to
dedicate not merely a structure of concrete and steel but
to rededicate ourselves to the principles of equal justice
and liberty under law which must motivate all the actions
of the Federal Government.
Thank you very, very much.
END (AT 11:30 A.M. EDT)