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About this quote

What does it mean?
Haig attempts to soften the meaning of a deceptive statement.
In plain terms
He calls a lie a fancy phrase.
What can you take from it?
Reframing deception as technical error.

Where it applies

  • press conference
  • controversy
  • defense

Putting it to work

  • managing scandal
  • language choice

Questions to consider

  • Does this change the meaning?
  • Is this a common tactic?

Another view

This phrasing often erodes trust.

More from Alexander Haig

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  2. Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state, in that order, and should the president decide he wants to …

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