Evening star., 1954-05-10


career that achievement has
made me happiest.
by observing civil rights, by
eliminating the third degree and
the evil practices that once ex-
listed. we have achieved a stand
ing in the country of which I'm
proud. And it's largely due to the
character of our personnel"
Mr.. Hoover said he is hopeful
the FBI will be divorced for all
time from partisan politics and
that his own successor will come
from FBI ranks.
Looking back over the stormy
years of FBI development, Mr..
Hoover said in one of his rare
interviews:
I'm heartily in favor of pro-
motion from within the bureau.
when I took over the direc-
torship in 1924. FBI agents held
their Jobs because of political
ties. They were political ap-
pointees-and the only require
ment was Do you have the in
dorsement of your committee
man?'
II stopped that. All my assist
ants and associates have come
through the ranks. My feeling is
that my successor, when the time
comes, should be designated from
the ranks. Not on any basis of
Seniority-but on ability.
1T isn't easy to develop good
executives. Good executives are
hard to find. It's not pleasant to
cenSure and to fire men from
their jobs If you got any pleas
ure out of such a thing, you'd
only be sadistic. But those things
must be done and they are hard
things to do.
I'VE have developed some fine
executives within the FBI. You
can't buy the kind of energy and
devotion they've given to the
bureau"
10-Man Brain Trust.
The general impression has
grown through the years that the
FBI is a one-man show, largely
because the name j. Edgar
Hoover has become linked mex
tricably with the name FBI. Mr..
Hoover does have the final de-
cisions-but in the background
is a 10-man brain trust through
which Mr.. Hoover works in di-
recting his fight against crime.
espionage and subversion.
Mr.. Hoover said: This isn't a
one-man show. I tell my people
constantly that one man can't
build the reputation of the FBI
but one man can pull it down. I"
Each morning at 1890 Mr..
Hoover's 10 top aides gather in
what is known as "the execu-
tive conference" The conference
includes Associate Director Clyde
TolSon. Assistants to the Direc-
tor L. " Boardman and Louis B.
Nichols. and the assistant direc-
tors and division chiefs.
One member of the conference
said: There are no holds barred
in our meetings. We thrash out
policies and procedures within
the framework of our RESPONSE
bility. Each decision is arrived
at by vote. If there is a split
vote-We must give the argu-
ments on both sides to the di-
rector for his final decision.
THE director wants the best
opinions even if they run counter
to his own. He wants recommen-
dationS. too, on a course of
action. One decision is made,
then we close ranks and carry
out the job.
The conference gives us an
opportunity to work out our
problems together and to help
each other. Also each man knows
precisely what the other is
doing"
Discussing this executive con-
ference meeting, Mr.. Hoover
said: Il don't want yes-men. I
must have the arguments for
and against each question. I
can't accept recommendations
without reasons.
Won't Stand For Gripping.
I'VE get everything out in the
open. I will not stand for gripping
and grapevine gossiping. If any,
body has got a grippe, I tell my
people to go to some one who
can do something about it or
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