Evening star., 1954-05-09
Continued from First Page.)


He said: What are they?'
"I said the bureau had to be
divorced from politics, with ap-
pointments made solely on merit.
Second. promotions would be
made on proved ability. the FBI
would not be a catch-all for
political hacks. and would be
responsible only to the Attorney
General.
"Mr. Stone scowled again and
said: I wouldn't give it to you
under any other conditions.
That's all. Good day."
Saw Job AS Temporary.
Then Mr.. Hoover added: II
never thought in those days the
bureau would be the size it is to-
day-or that I would be sitting in
this chair as director.
At the time, l was thinking of
going into private practice of law
and I considered the job as a
temporary responsibility.
THE other day I gave one of
our agents his 20-year key, some
thing that always gives me a
thrill. He said: Mr.. Hoover. I'll
start my next 20 years with the
FBI if you'll start your next 30
And that made me realize I have
been around here a long time.
Now I'm beginning to see the
sons and grandsons of FBI men
apply for jobs with the FBI.
That gives me lot of satisfac-
ton"
Mr.. Hoover's SO years rest
lightly on him. His dark hair
has grayed at the temples. He's
heavier than the 29year-old he
was when he took the job. But
he still talks rapidly and he's
quick in his movements. His
eyes are black. He is feet IL
inches tall and weighs 180. His
broken nose - smashed by
baseball as a youngster-gives
his face a look of bulldog te-
nacity.
In the course Of the talk, put
to Mr.. Hoover a question that
has cropped up intermittently
from the day the FBI was first
formed in 1908
us there a danger of the FBI
becoming a Gestapo? What is
to prevent the FBI from using
police-state methodist"
No Danger of Gestapo.
Mr.. Hoover's reply was quick
and emphatic:
mo, there is no danger of the
FBI becoming a Gestapo-not if
we have men of character in the
organization and an alert public
opinion.
1--WE must continue to have
men of good moral character
such as we have today. We may
make some mistakes in our
choices, but if we get the right
type of men they will refuse to
stoop to Gestapo-type methods.
I couldn't order my men to ig-
more fairness. make false prom
ises, use brutality, or engage in
hird-degree methods. They
simply wouldn't do it because
they're not that kind.
Public opinion is a great
force, too. The inquiring atti-
tude of the American press is a
magnificent factor in keeping an
organization honorable and
clean. We couldn't get the ap-
proval of the press with un-
ethical and improper methods.
Then, too, there are the
checks and restraints under
which we operate. and properly
so. The FBI is not an inde-
pendent entity. It's under the
Attorney General, and he is the
first check against US. We must
go before the Bureau of the Bud
get and justify the funds to
carry on our work.
Then there is the greatest
check of all-Congress. I must
give reasons for the funds I
request, and report on our stew
ardship. The questions fired at
me in congressional committees
are without regard to partisan
politics. They are inciSive and
searching. We must have the
support of Congress to exist,
and the FBI could not become
a Gestapo so long as there is a
searching attitude by Congress.
1--WE Are Fair and Hard"
Finally, there are the courts
with their check against our
procedures. The courts soon
would expose the use Of improper
searches and Seizures-and 50
would public opinion.
II must explain every item
in our budget and how the
money is used. I never want
any secret fund, a lump-sum
appropriation for which 1 don't
nave W dCCOuL1I. l WdAlI W az
count for every cent, because an
unexplained fund can lead to
abuses.
LAS 1t stands, we don't have to
apologize for being in the FBI.
This standard we live by has
paid of. There never has been
a scandal involving the FBI in
the past 80 years. We are fair
and we are hard. But that's the
way it should be-"
I asked about reports and in
situations that FBI files are
opened to some congressional
investigators-and that the FBI
tips off" members of Congress
to subversive cases where its
own agents can't get evidence
for a court case.
Mr.. Hoover snapped: IT can
say unqualifiedly that is an alb
solute lie.
I'm pretty sensitive to the
matter of our files. There's Moth
ing more important than the
sanctity and ir1grity of our
files I've consistently resisted