Actually it is quibbling over words. The post was about how Tenet had hurt the President with his sloppy oversight of the Pflame affair. The point about the lawyer was to underscore that that might be one reason Tenet was on the rocks.
You want to argue over whether the Pres. requires a lawyer or not. He contacted one about the Pflame case. I'd say he felt a need to do that....unless, of course, he just runs around contacting lawyers for his "rush of the day."
I've been around FR quite a long time, and I know when someone is being picayunish. In this case, you are. But there are freepers who get their jollies that way. More power to ya.
So have I.