Collections

Address before Federal-State Conference on Law Enforcement Problems

The country is looking to all of us as responsible public officials to handle to problems of federal and state law enforcement in connection with the national defense in an efficient and orderly manner. It looks to the state and federal governments to work together in cooperation, and while it is impossible to eliminate reasonable disagreements of matters or detail, the grave responsibility which we share makes it certain that we will at least approach our problems in a spirit of mutual confidence.

The Department of Justice and the Cities

I was very grateful to hear the suggestion that there is a place for ex Attorneys general to go. I do not gather the impression that I would be so welcome in the St. Louis from some of the editorials that I have read in the St. Louis papers. I am glad to be reassured.

Government Counsel and Their Opportunity

Almost exactly six years ago I arrived in Washington to become a General Counsel for the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Promising myself and my clients that it was for a year only, a good deal bewildered at the size and complexity of the government machine, I joined the ranks of government counsel.

Democracy Under Fire

The American people are a practical lot. I think they are more entertained than influenced by the high blood pressure of politicians, and they do not take seriously either their campaign professions of perfection or their prophesies of disaster.

Our Government Is Prepared Against the Fifth Column

This nation is well equipped to combat sabotage, espionage, Fifth Column activities, and other matters related to law enforcement. Long before this country became alive to the dangers of the Fifth Column, the President, forewarned by his experience in the World War, saw emergence of national defense as the nation's first problem. As long ago as September 6, 1939, he directed that all federal agencies dealing with civil defense during peace time be coordinated under the Department of Justice.

Address at the American United Program

Perhaps I may be pardoned for speaking tonight on the ground that I agreed before the election to come here and speak, whether we should win or lose. I agreed to do so because I believe that a sportsmanship which ungrudgingly accepts the decision of the majority is an essential part of our democratic system.

Sesquicentennial of the Supreme Court of the United States

The Federal Judiciary Act which became a law on September 24, 1789, provided for a Supreme Court to consist of a Chief Justice and five associate justices, thirteen district courts, and three circuit courts composed of two Supreme Court justices and a district judge. The act further fixed the jurisdiction of the inferior federal courts and provided for appellate jurisdiction from the state courts in certain cases presenting federal questions.

Alien Registration and Democracy

Five days from today the United States of American will complete an inventory of those persons within its borders who are not citizens. They are not American citizens but, with relatively few exceptions, these foreign-born among us are American assets-- precious human assets. At this critical period of our history an accounting of our assets is more than just sound practice; it is absolutely essential to our national defense.

Should The New Deal Policies Be Continued?

In establishing the Town Hall of Buffalo you are founding one of the basic institutions of democratic government, and I count it a privilege to help. The price of free government is that citizens must keep themselves informed and alert and critical of those in office. Our people need uncensored facts and undistorted information. But also they need the diversity of interpretation of events and the clash of opinion which helps to form individual judgments, the sum of which constitutes public opinion.

Address on Accepting Cardozo Award

I salute the courage of any group which dares award an honor to a living man- particularly one still in office- and in such times as these. When events so defy the guidance of established principles, who knows what caprice of individual conduct, what errors of judgment, what straying from principle may lie ahead to make you regret your choice? If I were on a board of award I should choose a living officeholder for honors only if he gave bond at once to retire and to keep silence while life should last.