Bull Clinton: the man, the myth, the way of lie.

• Author: Hazlett, Thomas W.

The Clinton administration has contributed mightily to American civic life. Indeed, in spurring a long overdue debate regarding what precisely constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors," our president can claim credit for tripping yet another "national conversation." He has reinvigorated popular interest in the words and meanings embodied in that most remarkable document, the U.S. Constitution. How refreshing it is to hear impressionable young school children, curious about original intent and brimming with knowledge about the affairs of state, excitedly passing on the most minute details of presidential leadership. Another kudo for the "most ethical administration in history."

This rosy scenario seems inappropriate to those who cannot forgive the president for the little trick he played on the public. Lying, after all, is a no-no. But he didn't really intend to lie. You - I'm talking to you, Mr. and Mrs. America - made him do it. Clinton campaign consultant and spiritual counselor Dick Morris spoke to the president just after the Lewinsky matter broke in January and assures us that Clinton seriously considered telling the truth about the whole affair - until the poll numbers came in.

"If [the American people] feel that you lied under oath, and they feel that you suborned perjury in any way, you're cooked," Morris said he told Clinton. "Forgiveness won't work."

January polls indicated a confession would indeed be politically devastating. By August, polls indicated the truth was pretty much of a yawn. But the real windfall was that Clinton's political sleaze factor - bargaining for Chinese campaign cash, the rate card on the Lincoln Bedroom, a Cabinet that qualifies for a volume discount from defense attorneys, the litany of scandal stretching from Arkansas futures to stolen FBI files - had been blasted off the public's radar screen.

The truth has never tested very well for Clinton, and his abilities as a statesman have been most spectacular when crafting cover stories for actual public policy. In 1993, Clinton failed to deliver his promised middle class tax cut, and the country's recovery sputtered: First-quarter gross domestic product growth fell nearly to zero, and full-year growth barely matched that of 1992, the year dubbed by candidate Clinton as showcasing "the worst economy in 50 years."

That was also the year in which a Republican filibuster nixed the president's magic economic elixir, $16 billion in government infrastructure...