http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2002-25-13.mp3
Today, we're going to get into the wonky weeds and wade in the alphabet soup about government watchdog agencies.
Maybe it won't be all that sexy. All though maybe it will. If you want to know why these agencies exist, go back to 1973 and the famous Saturday Night Massacre. Special prosecutor Archibald Cox issued a subpoena for some of President Nixon's Oval Office tapes. Nixon tried to get Cox to back down, and when he wouldn't, Nixon ordered him fired. Two American heroes, Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus, resigned rather than fire Cox. And yes, Inspector General Robert Bork was the guy who fired Cox.
It was a scary moment. But that's what it looks like when the chief executive can fire the guy who's investigating him. So we set up a bunch of agencies that would be independent. And we might be about to lose some of that.
You can join the conversation. E-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.