For example, you will undoubtedly recall the intensity of the political pressure to appoint an independent counsel to investigate alleged campaign finance violations in the Clinton re-election campaign - allegations that ultimately did not even result in adminstrative action by the FEC.

Those in the FBI who leaked information about that investigation and others may well have believed that they were doing the right thing, just as much as Mark Felt did. They may well have felt, just as Mark Felt did, that a politically controlled Justice Department was covering up criminal activity - just as happened in Watergate. They were wrong, by the way, both as to the coverup and as to the political motivation. But is it really fair to lionize Felt for the same conduct simply because he was right? In my opinion, it is dangerous to the Republic to have high officials of the FBI - a sufficiently powerful organization even when acting appropriately - arrogate to themselves the power to decide when it is appropriate to disregard their duties and reveal confidential law enforcement information to the public.

Watergate truly was a cancer on the Presidency, an episode of corruption and criminality that we have not seen since (whatever haters of Clinton and Bush may think). But not the least of its ill effects is that it began the blurring of the line between politics and law enforcement, a trend that has had dangerous results for us."