In late 1861, the Congress created a watchdog body, the Committee on the Conduct of the War. At times it did help Abe, but frequently it was a gadfly and pain in the neck to him. Its chairman was the liberal Republican Senator from Ohio, Benjamin Franklin Wade. He was always after Abe about	the conduct of the war. One day he strode into the White House and stormily told the President to fire McClellan. Abe asked him whom he should put in McClellan's place? To which Wade snorted, "Anybody!" Lincoln coolly replied, "Wade, anybody will do for you, but I must have somebody."

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