Evening star., 1954-05-09

Mr.. Hoover rarely steps into
the limelight but when he does
he is outspoken-particularly in
cases where he thinks there has
been a slur against himself or
the FBI.
Strong Religious Streak.
His speeches crackle with out
bursts against Communists and
Fascists; pseudo liberals; par
ents who fail their children;
"sob sisters" and "moo-cow"
sentimentalists who pamper
criminals; lawbreakers; and
midget politicians"
His sense of what is right and
what Is wrong leaves few gray
areas in his own standards of
conduct. There is a strong re-
ligious streak in Mr.. Hoover's
character and to him God, home
and country are sacred things
which must be protected from
evil forces.
II find my own rules of con-
duct laid down in the 9Th chap
ter. 9th verse of Micah" he said.
This says :. and what doth
the Lord require of thee, but to
do justly. and to love mercy, and
to walk humbly with thy God?'"
THAT is philosophy all of us
should have-a philosophy that
brings a deep sense of humility.
We need it in the country as we'll
as the FBI."
And this philosophy encom-
passes also a stern code for the
wrongdoer. Mr.. Hoover said:
I'VE must pay the penalty for the
wrongs we do"
The ministry almost won
young Hoover to it's ranks before
the FBI claimed him, partly be-
cause of the religious atmosphere
Of his home and the influence of
a young Presbyterian minister.
Born in Washington.
Mr.. Hoover was born January
l, 1895, only a few blocks from
the Capitol, the youngest of four
children. His father worked with
the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
His mother was a grand-niece OF
a one-time Swiss consul general
to the United States. The family
was tightly-knit group, and the
warm home life left it's mark on
Mr.. Hoover.
IT strongly believe the molding
of character begins at home"
the FBI chief said. There's the
place to reverse the trend in
juvenile delinquency.
I'm my own home, I never
remember having a meal that
wasn't opened by some one say
ing grace. I just grew up that
way.
I'VE didn't have much-but
we had everything we needed.
I always had to go to Sunday
school. l was given a little
testament for attendance on 81
consecutive Sundays-and it
was one of my treasures. still
have it.
"In those days, We always
read from the Bible so that our
home environment developed a
deep religious belief and faith.
"As a ypungster, I transferred
to the First Presbyterian Church
where the pastor was DR.. DON
aid Campbell Macleod. He was
a virile. wide-awake man with
a lot of punch. He'd come out
and referee our ball games. If
a damn popped out he'd ig-
more it. He was interested in
us and he wasn't sanctimonious.
He almost induced me to go
into the ministry. He was the
kind Of man I wanted to be.
Father Strong Influence.
And my father was a strong
influence, too. I used to look
forward to Saturday afternoons.
That's when I'd 60 to my IA
theirs Office and wait for him
to get through work-then we'd
come home together. He was
close to me as a pal"
In Central High School,
young Hoover was known as
"Speed"-not because he was
particularly fleet on foot. but
because he always wanted to
get things done in a hurry. He
reported for football but Coach
Biff Jones-later to become a
big name in American football
took one look at the 98-pound
youth and told him:
There's no place for you, son.
Why don't you try something
else?"
Mr.. Hoover did. He jumped
into debating and became cap
tain of Company B. the best
drilled cadet company In the
school. He was elected colonel
of the cadet corps-but declined
the honor so he could remain
with Company B.
To this day. his old high
school friends call him Speed"
To friends of later day he is
known as either John or Edgar
The pull of law won out over
the ministry Mr.. Hoover was
graduated from George Wash
ington University in 1916 with
a bachelor of laws degree and
he won his master of laws de-
gree a year later. He was an
honor student.
Young Hoover figured the JUS
tice Department was the place
where he could get the greatest