Word: ado
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...former President Jimmy Carter's briefing papers for his October 1980 debate with then Candidate Ronald Reagan wind up in the Reagan camp? The mystery titillated Washington last summer. "Debategate" entered the lexicon, and the inevitable congressional investigation began. The President dismissed the flap as "much ado about nothing...
Healy described the potential danger of high trihalomethane counts as "much ado about nothing--or almost nothing...
...turned out that the Reagan team had acquired other Carter papers of unknown significance. Then the atmosphere turned ugly. Aides to the President contradicted one another. Reagan was hammered at a press conference because he would not condemn an event that he sincerely if unwisely labeled "much ado about nothing." As criticism of his ethical fumbling mounted, the President sensibly yielded to demands that his private campaign records be handed over to investigators from the FBI. Zealous accusers exulted that they might have unearthed another Watergate...
...regain its full credibility only by ensuring that investigations go forward. If there is housecleaning to be done, the President has already demonstrated-most recently in the EPA scandal-that he can do it, however reluctantly and unapologetically. He stands by his characterization of the ruckus as "much ado about nothing. " But Reagan has already said what Richard Nixon could never quite bring himself to say about Watergate. Promised Reagan: "If, when the investigation is over and the truth is known, it is necessary to correct that statement, I'll correct it." Even if Reagan is vindicated, however...
Still, the Administration's handling of the miniscandal did much to feed the inquisitiveness of reporters. Reagan had first dismissed the fuss as "much ado about nothing." Budget Director David Stockman, who had used the papers while playing the role of Carter to rehearse Reagan for the debate, claimed that he did not know how the documents had been acquired. Chief of Staff James Baker readily admitted having seen the book and said he got it from CIA Director William Casey, who was then Reagan's campaign manager. Casey said he had "no recollection" of having seen...