Obiter Dicta

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin appeared on “Meet The Press” to lament the resignation of CIA boss David Petraeus: “What would we have done if FDR had not been our leader because he had an affair with Lucy Mercer? Think of the productive years that Clinton could have had if Monica Lewinsky hadn’t derailed them. We’ve got to figure out a way that we give a private sphere for our public leaders. We’re not gonna get the best people in public life if we don’t do that. This thing is really sad.”

Bob Woodward of The Washington Post straightened her out: “For the CIA Director, he has special status and he's got to be clean. He can’t be blackmailed or threatened or even deal with the anxiety, ‘My God, are they gonna find out about her?’ And he did the right thing.”

Perhaps Mrs. Goodwin should leave national security to the experts.