New York
I remember well a conversation I had with Gianni Agnelli in the winter of 1963 about John Profumo and lying: ‘Poor man,’ said the charismatic Fiat chairman- to-be, ‘such disgrace for so ugly a tart.’ Both of us at the time took it for granted that British politicians did not lie, something unheard of in our respective countries, which made Profumo’s falling on his sword only natural. Britain, back then, was a place that did not tolerate lies from public servants. Needless to say, no longer.
Forty years on, Mr Tony Blair can stand up in Parliament and, without blinking an eye, tell a whopper about weapons of mass destruction worthy of his mentor, Bill Clinton, and then some. In Washington things are no better, but at least Bush has an excuse. The greatest liar ever to inhabit the White House lied under oath and swore that he had never had sex with that woman, Monica Lewinsky, and got away with it.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in