The greatness of Edgar Hoover will remain inseparable from the greatness of the organization he created and gave his whole life to building, the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

He made the FBI the finest law enforcement agency on the earth, the invincible and incorruptible defender of every American's precious right to be free from fear.

Every American, in my opinion, owes J. Edgar Hoover a great debt for building the FBI into the finest law enforcement organization in the entire world.

The rate of crime in the District of Columbia has been cut in half in the past 3 years.

I have signed today an Executive order [11641] establishing a new Office for Drug Abuse Law Enforcement in the Department of Justice.

They spell 'partner' for government officials, law enforcement agencies, educators, and social workers in the more than 6,000 communities that have Jaycee chapters.

This Administration, in cooperation with local authorities, will use every means at its disposal to prevent such acts and to bring to justice those who perpetrate them.

By applying new techniques and adding resources, we have been able to halt--and even to reverse--the spiraling crime rate in the District of Columbia.

In America, law enforcement has been and must remain primarily the responsibility of State and local governments.

When individuals or groups attack the public order--for whatever reason--they must be stopped.

It is not my intention to defer or eliminate the essential; for example, travel for law enforcement, or for necessary supervision of field establishments, are costs which--if the activities are to be carried on efficiently-must be borne.

This crime business is just not an autumn fever.

No one, of course, should be permitted to escape ultimate prosecution for any violation of law.

Officials of the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department charged with the prevention of smuggling, on urgent matters involving attempts to smuggle merchandise and prohibited articles into the United States.

There is too much tendency on the part of some people to forget the devoted work of the police, to forget the safety of society and the victims of criminals out of sympathy with criminals themselves.

My own duty and that of all executive officials is clear--to enforce the law with all the means at our disposal without equivocation or reservation.

It recommends that further and more effective efforts be made to enforce the laws.

It calls attention to the urgency of obedience to law by our citizens and to the imperative necessity for greater assumption and performance by State and local governments of their share of responsibilities under the 'concurrent enforcement' provision of the Constitution if enforcement is to be successful.