The Nation: Gilt-Edged Choice for the FBI

Judge Johnson may be just what the beleaguered bureau needs

President Carter and Attorney General Griffin Bell sat in the Oval Office chewing over a familiar problem. FBI Director Clarence Kelley was due to step down by the end of 1977, but Carter and Bell had no replacement in sight; they were not happy with the five candidates proposed by a special committee. "My God," sighed Bell, "I still wish we could get ole Frank Johnson to take it."

As a matter of fact, Bell, to his pleased astonishment, had already received a signal from...

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