CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich used some colorful language Monday to describe his decision to stand up to his father-in-law in a family feud that the governor says has culminated in a grand jury investigation.

Blagojevich refused to say Monday if he had been subpoenaed by a grand jury looking into allegations that his chief fundraiser traded jobs for campaign contributions, but a source close to the investigation confirmed subpoenas had been sent to the governor's office, his major fundraisers, his political committees and some agency heads. But, quoting Theodore Roosevelt, the Democratic governor told reporters that any investigation would show his office to be "as clean as a hound's tooth."

Blagojevich said the investigation was started because he would not do business as usual and let friends and family benefit from his office.

NBC5's Dick Kay said the governor was referrring to his father-in-law, Alderman Dick Mell.

When asked about the importance of the public knowing whether a governor has been subpoenaed, given the pending corruption case against former Gov. George Ryan, Blagojevich said he wasn't Ryan and wasn't simply looking the other way when family members benefited.

"This is the kind of thing that I think separates the men from the boys in leadership. Do you have the testicular virility to make a decision like that, knowing what's coming your way?" Blagojevich said. "I say I do."

Mell lit the fuse for the grand jury investigation with a bitter tirade after the governor closed a landfill operated by Mell's distant cousin. Mell said Blagojevich's fundraisers were trading appointments to various boards and agencies for campaign cash.

Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly threatened to sue and Mell retracted the claims, but that didn't stop the Cook County grand jury from issuing subpoenaes for voluminous records.

"This is all a result of me doing my job at my own political peril, knowing what was likely to come my way," Blagojevich said.

Aides said the governor himself has not been subpoenaed.

Records of communications between the governor and Kelly are among the documents subpoenaed, Kay reported.

The subpoenas were sent the week of May 2 and seek records related to hiring, contracts and appointments, the source told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

According to the source, the list of people they were sent to include:

Major fundraisers, including the governor's chief fundraiser Christopher Kelly and adviser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
Blagojevich's gubernatorial and past congressional political committees.
A political committee of Mell.
Members of Blagojevich's administration who are responsible for hiring and contracts, including chief of staff Lon Monk and the head of the Department of Central Management Services.

Another source close to the governor's office also confirmed that the office received a subpoena for documents such as e-mail and other correspondence related to hiring, but said Blagojevich had not been asked to testify before a grand jury.

Blagojevich, speaking Monday at a news conference on education in Chicago, said it would be illegal to discuss whether he received a subpoena.

"As a former prosecutor, it's very clear that when there's a grand jury you don't talk about any specifics of it, that it is a violation of the law," Blagojevich said. "We're going to cooperate and we look forward to full vindication and, to quote Teddy Roosevelt, 'We're as clean as a hound's tooth,' when it comes to those kinds of things."

The section of state law dealing with secrecy of grand jury proceedings says it is illegal for grand jurors and lawyers to comment on grand jury matters, but it does not address witnesses.

Other matters being looked at ostensibly include Blagojevich's reappointment of Stuart Levine to the Health Facilities Board. Levine, who had donated to the governor's campaign, has been indicted for extortion and mail fraud.

Kay said Tony Rezko, another Blagojevich fundraiser, has ties to some Illinois Tollway food franchises and last week Blagojevich canceled a state contract with a clout-heavy firm for questionable spending.

"Still, he says this investigation is because he stood up to Dick Mell," Kay said.

Meanwhile, the governor's support among voters has plummeted in public opinion polls.

Kay said the subpoena is for records only involving any agency heads, appointees, unpaid advisors, and fundraisers. It is a joint investigation by Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine.

Blagojevich earlier asked his own inspector general to look at the claims.

NBC5's Don Lemon caught up with Mell at a Monday night reception honoring his daughter, but the normally outspoken alderman refused to comment.

"I have no comment on it, on a beautiful night like this," Mell said. "It's just unfortunate, that's all."