Comey Firing

Few FBI Directors last the full 10 years

Earlier this week, FBI Director James Comey was fired as the agency investigates Trump campaign ties to Russia. The move has proven highly controversial in Washington with many Democrats comparing it to the "Saturday Night Massacre" of 1973 when Nixon fired the special prosecutor investigating Watergate.

Interestingly, Comey's dismissal is only the second time the head of the FBI has been fired. The last time it occurred was during Bill Clinton's presidency when the president dismissed William S. Sessions in totally different circumstances. Generally, as can be seen from the following infographic featured in the Independent, the position of FBI chief doesn't involve a high level of job security.

Description

This chart shows FBI Directors and length of tenure since Hoover.

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Number of years served by FBI directors in the United States from 1912 to 2023
Public opinion on why President Trump fired former FBI chief Comey as of May 2017
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Length of time spent in office by every President of the United States from 1789 to 2026 (in years)
Number of assassinations and assassination attempts on U.S. presidents from 1835 to 2024, by outcome
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Number of years served by Presidents of the European Commission from 1958 to 2025
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Longest ruling national leaders in authoritarian countries as of June 2025, by years in office

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