Governor Evan Mecham of Arizona, c. 1988.

PHOENIX — Any mention of Arizona’s gubernatorial shortcomings, frustrations and downright exasperations should include the Laser Beam Incident.

Just before he was removed from his term as governor in 1988, the late Evan Mecham told associates that he couldn’t talk openly in his office. He claimed that one of his eavesdropping political foes had laser beams pointed at his windows. Fortunately, for the sake of office security, Mecham also claimed he could deflect the beams by varying the volume of his radio while he talked.

Mecham was impeached and removed from office for obstructing justice and misusing public funds.