Orrin Hatch: “I oppose this amendment. Yes, there are things that can be said, but there are many things that have been accomplished…”

“I oppose this amendment. Yes, there are things that can be said, but there are many things that have been accomplished during the tenure of Hoover. I have to say there is a raft of FBI agents who would be very offended by this. And I don't think we should do it. As a matter of fact, if we go back through time, if you look at all the good things that were done and all the many accomplishments of the FBI, you have to conclude there was an awful lot that we have to be proud of even though there are some things that are certainly to be criticized and rightfully so. When the Senate takes action to honor--or discredit--men and women who have favorably shaped this nation, we should do so only after careful reflection and deliberation. We must also be careful not to allow the faults or excesses of an individual overshadow the contributions they have made to our country. I think we need to consider the negative effect passage of this amendment could have on an institution that has made a profound contribution to the safety and security of this nation. The FBI is deservedly recognized as the preeminent law enforcement agency in the world. And whether we care to like him or not, unlike any other institution in our federal government, there is one person that is directly responsible for the FBI's rise in prominence, J. Edgar Hoover.”