"Of course presidents lie"

[Linda Anderson]

"Historians say many of our greatest presidents were the biggest liars -- and duplicity was part of their greatness.
"'Every president has not only lied at some time, but needs to lie to be effective,' says Ed Uravic, a former Washington lobbyist, congressional chief of staff and author of "Lying Cheating Scum."

"Even "Honest Abe," whose majestic "Gettysburg Address" the nation commemorated this week, was a skillful liar, says Meg Mott, a professor of political theory at Marlboro College in Vermont.
"Lincoln lied about whether he was negotiating with the South to end the war... He also lied about where he stood on slavery. He told the American public and political allies that he didn't believe in political equality for slaves because he didn't want to get too far ahead of public opinion, Mott says.
"'He had to be devious with the electorate,' Mott says. 'He played slave-holders against abolitionists. He had to lie to get people to follow him. Lincoln is a great Machiavellian.'"

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/24/politics/p...?hpt=hp_c2