English subtitles for clip: File:President Obama Speaks at the Installation of FBI Director James Comey.webm

1
00:00:02,767 --> 00:00:04,637
The President:
Thank you.

2
00:00:04,633 --> 00:00:07,633
Thank you, FBI.

3
00:00:07,633 --> 00:00:09,103
Thank you so much.

4
00:00:11,433 --> 00:00:13,803
Thank you very much;
thank you.

5
00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:14,930
Thank you so much.

6
00:00:14,934 --> 00:00:18,304
Please, everybody, be seated -- 
those of you who have seats.

7
00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:20,230
[laughter]

8
00:00:20,233 --> 00:00:22,963
Well, good afternoon, everybody.

9
00:00:22,967 --> 00:00:27,297
I am so proud to be here
and to stand once again

10
00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:32,870
with so many dedicated
men and women of the FBI.

11
00:00:32,867 --> 00:00:35,597
You are the best of the best.

12
00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,170
Day in and day out,
you work tirelessly

13
00:00:38,166 --> 00:00:43,936
to confront the most dangerous
threats our nation faces.

14
00:00:43,934 --> 00:00:47,634
You serve with courage;
you serve with integrity.

15
00:00:47,633 --> 00:00:51,503
You protect Americans
at home and abroad.

16
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,100
You lock up criminals.

17
00:00:56,100 --> 00:00:59,830
You secure the homeland against
the threat of terrorism.

18
00:00:59,834 --> 00:01:05,334
Without a lot of fanfare,
without seeking the spotlight,

19
00:01:05,333 --> 00:01:09,203
you do your jobs,
all the while upholding

20
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,400
our most cherished values
and the rule of law.

21
00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:21,730
Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity: 
That's your motto.

22
00:01:21,734 --> 00:01:28,034
And today, we're here to welcome
a remarkable new leader

23
00:01:28,033 --> 00:01:30,703
for this remarkable institution,

24
00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:34,470
one who lives those principles
out every single day:

25
00:01:34,467 --> 00:01:36,467
Mr. Jim Comey.

26
00:01:38,033 --> 00:01:41,263
Before I get to Jim, I want
to thank all the predecessors

27
00:01:41,266 --> 00:01:42,896
who are here today.

28
00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:44,530
We are grateful
for your service.

29
00:01:44,533 --> 00:01:48,533
I have to give a special
shout-out to Bob Mueller,

30
00:01:48,533 --> 00:01:52,663
who served longer than
he was supposed to,

31
00:01:52,667 --> 00:02:00,537
but he was such
an extraordinary leader

32
00:02:00,533 --> 00:02:01,833
through some of the
most difficult times

33
00:02:01,834 --> 00:02:03,904
that we've had
in national security.

34
00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:07,870
And I consider him a friend
and I'm so grateful for him

35
00:02:07,867 --> 00:02:09,497
and Ann being here today.

36
00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:10,770
Thank you very much.

37
00:02:10,767 --> 00:02:20,397
[applause]

38
00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,270
Now, Jim has dedicated his
life to defending our laws --

39
00:02:25,266 --> 00:02:27,936
to making sure
that all Americans

40
00:02:27,934 --> 00:02:31,404
can trust our justice system
to protect their rights

41
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:33,400
and their well-being.

42
00:02:35,967 --> 00:02:38,537
He's the grandson of a beat cop.

43
00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:45,997
He's the prosecutor who helped
bring down the Gambinos.

44
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,100
He's the relentless attorney who
fought to stem the bloody tide

45
00:02:49,100 --> 00:02:52,970
of gun violence,
rub out white-collar crime,

46
00:02:52,967 --> 00:02:56,437
deliver justice to terrorists.

47
00:02:56,433 --> 00:02:59,303
It's just about impossible to
find a matter of justice

48
00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:02,070
he has not tackled,

49
00:03:02,066 --> 00:03:03,796
and it's hard
to imagine somebody

50
00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:08,370
who is not more uniquely qualified 
to lead a bureau

51
00:03:08,367 --> 00:03:11,537
that covers all of it --

52
00:03:11,533 --> 00:03:13,933
traditional threats like
violent and organized crime

53
00:03:13,934 --> 00:03:17,664
to the constantly changing threats 
like terrorism

54
00:03:17,667 --> 00:03:20,567
and cyber-security.

55
00:03:20,567 --> 00:03:24,167
So he's got the resume.

56
00:03:24,166 --> 00:03:29,166
But, of course, Jim is also
a famously cool character --

57
00:03:29,166 --> 00:03:33,536
the calmest in the
room during a crisis.

58
00:03:33,533 --> 00:03:38,063
Here's what a fellow former
prosecutor said about him.

59
00:03:38,066 --> 00:03:41,896
He said, "You know
that Rudyard Kipling line --

60
00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:43,030
'If you can keep your head

61
00:03:43,033 --> 00:03:45,363
when all about you
are losing theirs'--

62
00:03:45,367 --> 00:03:48,537
that's Jim."

63
00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:52,763
There's also a story from the
time during his prosecution

64
00:03:52,767 --> 00:03:54,137
of the Gambino crime family.

65
00:03:54,133 --> 00:03:56,833
One of the defendants was an
alleged hit man named Lorenzo.

66
00:03:56,834 --> 00:04:00,164
And during the trial,
Jim won an award

67
00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:03,636
from the New York
City Bar Association.

68
00:04:03,633 --> 00:04:05,333
When the court convened
the next morning,

69
00:04:05,333 --> 00:04:07,603
everybody was buzzing
about it, and suddenly,

70
00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,830
a note was passed down
from the defendant's table,

71
00:04:09,834 --> 00:04:12,634
across the aisle to
the prosecutor's table.

72
00:04:12,633 --> 00:04:14,363
It was handed
to Jim, and it read:

73
00:04:14,367 --> 00:04:17,097
"Dear Jim, congratulations
on your award.

74
00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:19,070
No one deserves
it more than you.

75
00:04:19,066 --> 00:04:20,196
You're a true professional.

76
00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,330
Sincerely, Lorenzo."

77
00:04:22,333 --> 00:04:26,963
[laughter]

78
00:04:26,967 --> 00:04:28,467
"Sincerely, Lorenzo."

79
00:04:28,467 --> 00:04:30,967
Now, we don't know
how sincere he was.

80
00:04:30,967 --> 00:04:32,237
[laughter]

81
00:04:32,233 --> 00:04:34,203
We don't know whether
this was a veiled threat,

82
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,500
or a plea for leniency,
or an honest compliment.

83
00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:42,530
But I think it is fair to say
that Jim has won the respect

84
00:04:42,533 --> 00:04:45,463
of folks across the spectrum --

85
00:04:45,467 --> 00:04:47,167
including Lorenzo.

86
00:04:47,166 --> 00:04:49,966
[laughter]

87
00:04:49,967 --> 00:04:53,297
He's the perfect leader for
an organization whose walls

88
00:04:53,300 --> 00:04:56,800
are graced by the words of
a legendary former director:

89
00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,100
"The most effective weapon
against crime is cooperation."

90
00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,070
Jim has worked with many
of the more than 35,000

91
00:05:04,066 --> 00:05:06,266
men and women of the FBI
over the course of his long

92
00:05:06,266 --> 00:05:08,296
and distinguished career.

93
00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:10,830
And it's his
admiration and respect

94
00:05:10,834 --> 00:05:13,804
for all of you, individually,

95
00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,170
his recognition of the hard work 
that you do every day --

96
00:05:18,166 --> 00:05:22,366
sometimes under extraordinarily
difficult circumstances --

97
00:05:22,367 --> 00:05:23,767
not just the folks
out in the field,

98
00:05:23,767 --> 00:05:26,797
but also folks
working the back rooms,

99
00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:31,900
doing the hard work,
out of sight --

100
00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:37,770
his recognition that
your mission is important

101
00:05:37,767 --> 00:05:39,397
is what compelled
him to answer the call

102
00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,370
to serve his country again.

103
00:05:43,133 --> 00:05:45,933
The FBI joins forces with our
intelligence, our military,

104
00:05:45,934 --> 00:05:48,334
and homeland security
professionals to break up

105
00:05:48,333 --> 00:05:51,363
all manner of threats --
from taking down drug rings

106
00:05:51,367 --> 00:05:53,397
to stopping those
who prey on children,

107
00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,330
to breaking up al Qaeda cells
to disrupting their activities,

108
00:05:57,333 --> 00:05:58,433
thwarting their plots.

109
00:05:58,433 --> 00:06:00,303
And your mission keeps expanding

110
00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:05,730
because the nature of the threats 
are always changing.

111
00:06:05,734 --> 00:06:07,364
Unfortunately,
the resources allotted

112
00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:11,767
to that mission has
been reduced by sequestration.

113
00:06:11,767 --> 00:06:16,967
I'll keep fighting for those
resources because our country

114
00:06:16,967 --> 00:06:20,397
asks and expects a lot from you,
and we should make sure

115
00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,670
you've got the resources
you need to do the job.

116
00:06:23,667 --> 00:06:25,337
Especially when
many of your colleagues

117
00:06:25,333 --> 00:06:27,803
put their lives on the line
on a daily basis,

118
00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,470
all to serve and protect
our fellow citizens --

119
00:06:30,467 --> 00:06:31,597
the least we can
do is make sure

120
00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,130
you've got the
resources for it

121
00:06:33,133 --> 00:06:34,863
and that your operations
are not disrupted

122
00:06:34,867 --> 00:06:36,467
because of politics
in this town.

123
00:06:36,467 --> 00:06:39,467
[applause]

124
00:06:39,467 --> 00:06:48,537
Now the good news is things
like courage, leadership,

125
00:06:48,533 --> 00:06:51,603
judgment, and compassion --

126
00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,730
those resources are,

127
00:06:53,734 --> 00:06:55,264
potentially, at least, 
inexhaustible.

128
00:06:55,266 --> 00:06:57,866
That's why it's critical
that we seek out

129
00:06:57,867 --> 00:06:59,837
the best people to serve --

130
00:06:59,834 --> 00:07:02,164
folks who have earned
the public trust;

131
00:07:02,166 --> 00:07:03,666
who have excellent judgment,

132
00:07:03,667 --> 00:07:07,197
even in the most
difficult circumstances;

133
00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,470
those who possess not just
a keen knowledge of the law,

134
00:07:10,467 --> 00:07:15,137
but also a moral compass
that they -- and we --

135
00:07:15,133 --> 00:07:17,963
can always count on.

136
00:07:17,967 --> 00:07:22,197
And that's who we've
got in Jim Comey.

137
00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,270
I'll tell you I interviewed
a number of extraordinary

138
00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:32,836
candidates for this job,
all with sterling credentials.

139
00:07:32,834 --> 00:07:36,434
But what gave me confidence
that this was the right man

140
00:07:36,433 --> 00:07:40,803
for the job wasn't his degrees
and it wasn't his resume;

141
00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:47,230
it was in talking to him
and seeing his amazing family,

142
00:07:47,233 --> 00:07:49,333
a sense that this
somebody who knows

143
00:07:49,333 --> 00:07:53,203
what's right and what's wrong,

144
00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,400
and is willing to act on
that basis every single day.

145
00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,600
And that's why I'm so grateful

146
00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,630
that he's signed up
to serve again.

147
00:08:00,633 --> 00:08:02,963
I will spare you yet another
joke about how today,

148
00:08:02,967 --> 00:08:03,937
no one stands taller.

149
00:08:03,934 --> 00:08:06,234
[laughter]

150
00:08:06,233 --> 00:08:10,803
I simply want to thank Jim
for accepting this role.

151
00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,530
I want to thank Patrice and
the five remarkable children

152
00:08:15,533 --> 00:08:18,333
that they've got --

153
00:08:18,333 --> 00:08:20,203
because jobs like
this are a team effort,

154
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,030
as you well know.

155
00:08:22,033 --> 00:08:25,303
And I want to thank most all
the men and women of the FBI.

156
00:08:25,300 --> 00:08:28,670
I'm proud of your work.

157
00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:30,767
I'm grateful for your service.

158
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:32,767
I'm absolutely confident
that this agency

159
00:08:32,767 --> 00:08:36,837
will continue to flourish
with Jim at the helm.

160
00:08:36,834 --> 00:08:40,104
And if he gets lost
in the building,

161
00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:41,370
I want you guys to help him out.

162
00:08:41,367 --> 00:08:44,037
[laughter]

163
00:08:44,033 --> 00:08:46,903
Because I guarantee you that
he's going to have your back,

164
00:08:46,900 --> 00:08:49,170
make sure you've got
his back as well.

165
00:08:49,166 --> 00:08:50,296
Thank you very much, everybody.

166
00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:51,400
God bless you.

167
00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,830
[applause]