Christy Todd Whitman played ball with Bush when he needed the EPA report on Ground Zero changed.
The EPA scientists said that the asbestos in the air would be killing tens of thousands of people from cancer in ten years. The White house preferred a "everything is safe 24 hours later, go back to work!" approach.
EPA changed their report. The WH pressured an independent govt agency to change their findings to fit the White house's agenda. Whistleblowers and concerned scientists at EPA went to the media about it. Now can you see why I don't put much stock in the NIST report on 911? They are, just like the EPA, a govt agency who was ordered to write a paper which was reviewed and released by the White House.
Actually Christy did not consistently play ball with Bush. She was too independent and actually tried to do her job which is why she quickly became unwelcome in the administration. Accordingly, they ran her out of town. Ever the good politician, she cited wanting to spend more time with her family as the reason for her leaving. If my memory is correct, she was one of (if not the) first cabinet secretary to leave.
Politically, I can’t stand Christy, but she is a very smart and capable executive, far more so than Bush. The GOP lost one of its brightest stars when they effectively gave her the boot. She could have been an effective President.
It is annoying as hell to see talents like Whitman ejected and idiots like Dole promoted.