William H. Webster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William H. Webster
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Webster as FBI director
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| Chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council | |
| In office August 10, 2005 – August 18, 2020 |
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| President | |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Joseph J. Grano Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William Bratton |
| 14th Director of Central Intelligence | |
| In office May 26, 1987 – August 31, 1991 |
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| President | |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Robert Gates (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Robert Gates |
| 3rd Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
| In office February 23, 1978 – May 25, 1987 |
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| President | |
| Deputy | James B. Adams |
| Preceded by | Clarence M. Kelley |
| Succeeded by | William S. Sessions |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit | |
| In office July 18, 1973 – February 22, 1978 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Marion Charles Matthes |
| Succeeded by | Theodore McMillian |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri | |
| In office December 21, 1970 – July 18, 1973 |
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| Appointed by | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | John Francis Nangle |
| United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri | |
| In office January 1, 1960 – January 20, 1961 |
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| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Harry Richards |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Lance |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Hedgcock Webster
March 6, 1924 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Drusilla Lane
(m. 1950; died 1984)Lynda Clugston
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | |
William Hedgcock Webster (born March 6, 1924) is an American lawyer and judge who has retired from public service. He held very important jobs in the United States government. He was the head of the Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2005 to 2020.
Before that, he was a judge for the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. He then became the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1978 to 1987. After that, he was the director of Central Intelligence (CIA) from 1987 to 1991. He is the only person ever to have led both the FBI and the CIA.
Contents
William Webster's Early Life and Education
Growing Up and Military Service
William Webster was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 6, 1924. His parents were Thomas Milliken Webster and Katherine Hedgcock. He grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri.
He served in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World War II. After the war, he went to college. He served in the Navy again during the Korean War.
College and Law School
In 1947, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was part of the Psi Upsilon fraternity there.
He then went to Washington University School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1949. After law school, he worked at a law firm in St. Louis. Soon after, he began his career in public service.
Early Public Service Roles
From 1960 to 1961, he was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. This meant he was a top lawyer for the government in that area. He also served on the Missouri Board of Law Examiners from 1964 to 1969.
William Webster's Judicial Career
Becoming a Federal Judge
President Richard Nixon chose William Webster to be a judge. On December 21, 1970, he became a judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He served in this role for almost three years.
Serving on the Court of Appeals
In 1973, President Nixon nominated him again. This time, he became a judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. This is a higher court that reviews decisions from district courts. He served as an appeals court judge until 1978.
Leading the FBI and CIA
Director of the FBI (1978–1987)
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed William Webster to lead the FBI. The FBI is a major law enforcement agency in the United States. Even though Webster was a Republican, a Democratic president chose him for this important job. He led the FBI for nine years.
Director of the CIA (1987–1991)
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan chose Webster to be the director of the CIA. The CIA gathers information about other countries to protect the United States. He led the CIA until he retired from public service in 1991.
After retiring, Webster continued to work as a lawyer. He focused on helping solve disagreements and looking into company issues.
Homeland Security Advisory Council
From 2005 to 2020, Webster was the chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. This group advises the government on how to keep the country safe.
Other Important Work
In 2002, he was the first chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). This board helps make sure companies report their money honestly. There were some questions about a company he was involved with, and he decided to step down from the board.
In 2009, he was asked to look into a serious event involving the military. In 2020, he and many other former Republican officials stated that they supported Joe Biden for president. He also supported Kamala Harris in 2024.
Honors and Awards for William Webster
William Webster has received many awards for his long career.
- In 1972, Washington University honored him for his work in law.
- In 1984, he received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Public Service.
- In 1999, Washington University's law school created the Webster Society, a program for excellent students.
- He received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1978.
He also received special degrees from several universities. In 1991, he was given the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Security Medal. These are some of the highest honors a person can receive in the United States.
In 2005, he received the William J. Donovan Award. He is also an honorary chairman of The OSS Society.
William Webster's Personal Life
William Webster was married to Drusilla Lane for 34 years. They had three children: Drusilla L. Busch, William H. Webster Jr., and Katherine H. Roessle. Drusilla Lane passed away in 1984.
In 1990, Webster married Lynda Clugston. They live in Washington, D.C. In 2015, a person tried to trick them into sending money. They used their connections with the FBI to help law enforcement catch the person.
William Webster turned 100 years old on March 6, 2024.
William Webster's Famous Quotes
William Webster is known for some wise statements. In 2002, he said: "Security is always seen as too much until the day it is not enough." This means people might not think security is important until something bad happens.
He also said: "Order protects liberty and liberty protects order." This means that having rules and structure helps keep people free, and being free helps keep things organized.
Quotes
William Webster is known for some thoughtful quotes. In 2002, he said: "Security is always seen as too much until the day it is not enough." This means people might not think security is important until something bad happens.
He also stated: "Order protects liberty and liberty protects order." This highlights the balance between having rules and having freedom.
Images for kids
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William Webster (right) with Dick Cheney (left) and Brent Scowcroft (center)
See also
In Spanish: William Webster para niños
