My FBI

Author: Louis J. Freeh  

List Price: $26.95

Pages: 352

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 11, 2005)

Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches

ISBN: 0312321899    

Louis Freeh led the Federal Bureau of Investigation¹ from 1993 to 2001, through some of the most tumultuous times in its long history. This is the story of a life in law enforcement, and of one man's determined² struggle to strengthen and reform the FBI while ensuring its freedom from political interference.

Bill Clinton called Freeh a "law enforcement legend" when he nominated him as FBI Director. The good feelings would not last. Going toe-to-toe with his boss during the scandal-plagued '90s, Freeh fought hard to defend his agency from political interference and to protect America from the growing threat of international terrorism. When Clinton later called that appointment the worst one he had made as president, Freeh considered it "a badge of honor."

This is Freeh's entire story, from his Catholic upbringing in New
Jersey³ to law school, the FBI training academy, his career as a US District attorney and as a federal judge, and finally his eight years as the nation's top cop. This is the definitive⁴ account of American law enforcement in the run-up to September 11. Freeh is clear-eyed, frank, the ultimate realist, and he offers resolute⁵ vision for the struggles ahead.

Book review

My FBI was an intresting read for me. It provided a another side to the story we've heard thousands of times from the media and other politicians. Freeh provides insight into the workings of the FBI and how it has struggled against not only criminals and terrorist but also from within our own goverment.

Throughtout the book, he consistenly tells us about the many difficulties the FBI faces as it head into the 22nd Century. The lack of adequate technology to combat todays computer and online crimes, and the insufficient⁶ funding and main power to fight an efficeint war against terrorist. It seems as if Freeh is trying one last attempt to get the Public to pressure Congress to make the FBI into an up-to-date, fully⁷ manned crime/terrorist fighting agency.

Freeh gives short little reviews of many of the huge cases that the FBI dealt with during his term. I do think that he spent too much time about Clinton and the investigation about him. Not saying that Clinton was a perfect man, but he slams down too much on him when he could be writing about more important topics. Freeh also blames a lot of the problems he and the FBI faced on other people and groups. Freeh wasn't perfect and niether was Congress or the President, so Freeh shouldn't have put so much blame for his problems on them.

Another things that was a problem in My FBI was the story was rather scattered⁸. He starts off with the attack in Saudi Arabia then moves to his childhood and jumps around like that. It makes the book hard to follow sometimes and awkwards in places.

Overall, this was a good memoir⁹ of Louis Freeh and the time he spent as director of the FBI. A lot of good actions happened during his time and some negative events also happened. Freeh took the FBI through a lot of change and came out the better for it.

Author introduction

LOUIS J. FREEH served as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1993 to 2001. He now is senior vice¹⁰ chairman of MBNA.