A dentist who worked on the president told reporters about the operation a few weeks later, when it appeared to have been a success, but Cleveland preferred to keep the matter secret and ordered spokesmen to deny the story. Because reporters were not yet accustomed to presidents lying, they backed off. In effect, they became part of the White House cover-up. Lying is bad. It's particularly bad for presidents to lie.
Every generation draws lessons about the world from the events it experiences.
The generation that appeased Hitler at Munich concluded that unchecked aggression leads to war. But it may be time to rethink the lesson of Vietnam and Watergate as we once had to rethink the lesson of Munich. If we find a man likable and approve of the job he's doing, then perhaps we should overlook his lies. Certainly, it's doubtful we should impeach him. In the current environment that may sound morally bankrupt, but it hasn't always.