Mr.
Schiff: Hi, welcome to "FBI 100, A Closer
Look." I'm Neal Schiff of the Bureau's Office
of Public Affairs along with FBI Historian Dr.
John Fox. John, the FBI seal is a real identifier
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has
been for quite a while?
Dr.
Fox: "Yes Neal. It's kind of that image people
think of when see the Bureau whether it's on an
anti-piracy warning on a video or something else.
It's been around since 1940, so it's been with
us for a long time."
Mr.
Schiff: Do you know what led to the creation
of the FBI seal as we see it today?
Dr.
Fox: "As you probably know the Bureau got
the name FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
in 1935. Very quickly of course we got our motto,
too, that went with it: Fidelity, Bravery and
Integrity. And so for a couple of years after
that they were batting around with the idea 'what
would we have as our seal.' The old one used to
be just the DOJ logo with FBI written in it. But
by 1940 they had come up with a distinctive one
that represented things that the Bureau stood
for."
Mr.
Schiff: Can you describe the colorful seal?
Dr.
Fox: "Sure Neal. It's a circular seal with
a jagged beveled edge that represents the hard
work that the Bureau does. In the center of the
seal is a shield with the Scales of Justice obviously
representing our relationship with the Department
of Justice and the work that we do. There are
a number of stars that are around it representing
the United States and the original 13 colonies.
Laurel leaves suggesting the academic excellence
of the employees of the Bureau. One leaf for each
state that was in existence at the time and of
course the motto, Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity."
Mr.
Schiff: The FBI seal; been around for 67 years
while the FBI heads to 100 next year. From the
FBI's Public Affairs office, along with Bureau
Historian Dr. John Fox, I'm Neal Schiff with "FBI
100, A Closer Look."
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