Beginning in 1967, McIntire engaged in a running battle with the Federal Communications Commission over the then-applicable "Fairness Doctrine," by which radio stations had to provide varied political views to retain their licenses. WXUR was "incompetently run and flagrantly disrespectful of FCC requirements," but there was also "no doubt that the station was targeted because many members of the local Philadelphia community found speech expressed on WXUR offensive and therefore wanted it censored." When the FCC refused to renew the WXUR license (rejecting the recommendation of its own examiner) and the station was forced off the air in 1973, McIntire demonstrated his theatrical flair by holding a "funeral" for the station (complete with coffin) while dressed as John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian pastor and signer of the Declaration of Independence.