As he walked into the White House, [Bush] spotted Attorney General William Barr in the crowd. With an index finger motion of “follow me,” the president summoned Barr to the Oval Office. When they were alone, Bush exploded about the Weinberger re-indictment. “It appears this was very political!” he bellowed, following up with a string of very pungent remarks. “Cost me the election,” he said furiously.

Barr said he thought the re-indictment was a crude political act with a political motive. Career Justice Department prosecutors would never bring out controversial information in an indictment just before an election. Barr said he wanted to dismiss Walsh. He knew the law well. He could remove Walsh for “misconduct.”

"Walsh has abused his power!" Bush said, inviting the attorney general to fire Walsh.

"I've had an itchy finger," Barr replied. During the previous 18 months, he had been tempted. The most recent outrage only renewed his interest. He said he had asked himself, "What is the standard that applies to this guy?"

He had consulted his most trusted and confidential advisers in the department. They worried that if Barr terminated Walsh, there would be a new firestorm. Because Walsh was appointed under the independent counsel law, Barr said, the courts would replace him with another person. The investigation would continue.

Neither man had to mention the obvious alternative: a presidential pardon for Weinberger.