    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [April 2, 1997]
    [Pages 375-376]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Resignation of Eljay B. Bowron as Director of the
    United States Secret Service
    April 2, 1997

        Eljay Bowron has done a superb job as Director of the United States
    Secret Service, and I am accepting his resignation with regret. I have
    great admiration for what he has accomplished during his service to our
    country.
        For 23 years, Eljay Bowron has focused his intelligence, judgment,
    and deep professionalism on implementing, improving, and reforming the
    critical national missions of the United States Secret Service.
    Following his tenure with the Detroit Police Department, Eljay began his
    career as a special agent in the Chicago field office. From there, he
    engaged successfully in a series of assignments investigating crimes,
    especially counterfeiting and financial crimes, serving in the Secret
    Service's intelligence division, and finally participating in the Secret
    Service's protective mission.
        As Director, Eljay has been fond of saying, ``When you stop
    changing, you stop growing,'' and this reformist instinct marked a
    tenure of great accomplishment. Before strategic planning initiatives
    were a regular part of Government management, Eljay formed teams to
    examine every Secret Service function. He changed the way Secret Service
    agents are trained; he consolidated the agency's forgery and financial
    crime investigative units; he made a powerful case for closing
    Pennsylvania Avenue; and he led the production of the new currency with
    anticounterfeiting improvements. For these reasons and more, his tenure
    as Director will long be remembered by admirers of law enforcement and
    the Secret Service.
        I want to take this opportunity to thank Eljay's wife, Sandy, and
    his son, Brandon, for accepting the pressures and difficulties that
    arise from being a part of the Secret Service family. They endured a
    number of moves, as many Secret Service families do, from one great
    American city to another. I hope that Eljay's decision to join Ameritech
    will mean greater freedom for Eljay to enjoy Brandon's interest in
    baseball and development as a pitcher. Family means so much to Eljay--
    you can see that with the pride he exhibits in carrying and keeping his
    father's badge from the Detroit Police Department. Eljay's father would
    be very proud of his accomplishments, especially on this day.

    [[Page 376]]

        On behalf of my family, the Vice President and his family, the
    former Presidents and their families, indeed on behalf of everyone who
    has felt the reassurance of being in the care of the Secret Service
    agents led by Eljay Bowron, let me thank the distinguished Director of
    the U.S. Secret Service for his remarkable devotion to duty and our
    country. He will be missed.