AllMovie

This documentary, part of the 20th Century With Mike Wallace series from CBS News and the History Channel, goes behind-the-scenes for an inside look at the Independent Counsel Law, giving birth to the position of special prosecutor. Narrated by series host and CBS News correspondent Mike Wallace, this episode examines how after the Watergate chaos, Congress was looking for a way to prevent another fiasco like that from ever happening again. They passed the Independent Counsel Law in 1978, a law that created a non-political prosecutor position to investigate alleged illegal behavior within the Executive Branch. However, this law took a beating with the work of Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr in the Whitewater and President Clinton impeachment scandal because Starr abused his power. 20th Century With Mike Wallace looks at how Congress decided not to renew this law as a result of Starr's actions.