Edited: A New Moral Compass Leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation: James Corney

President Obama introduced the seventh director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey. Thanking the crowd of FBI agents, Obama remarked on their new leader, Comey, and the impressive accomplishments that precede him.

Obama claimed, “It is hard to imagine somebody who is not so uniquely qualified. Jim is a famously cool character in the presence of a crisis.” Obama then recognized Comey's family and thanked them as a team. 

That ‘cool character’ was well represented in Comey’s acceptance speech, as his tranquil demeanor was evident. In his speech, Comey defined the three aspects to the FBI shield: fidelity, bravery and integrity.

Comey spoke of the abuse of power, and how all agents will visit the Martin Luther King memorial to be reminded of the abuse of power of our great nation prior.

Bravery belongs on the shield because, as Comey quoted, “the essence of bravery is fear. Real agents like real people, feel that fear. The men and women of the FBI know the dangers of their jobs, but raise their right hands, take the oath and do it anyway.”

Lastly Comey quoted, “integrity, a person of integrity is completely undivided. Everything we do is making people believe. Every employee of the FBI has received the gift of integrity but must protect it and earn it.”

The audience of FBI agents, as well as President Obama was left confident that the decision to make Comey the seventh director to the FBI would be beneficial for years to come.