When someone wins, and someone is inaugurated, he becomes president, events happen . . . and people forget the circumstances of his becoming president.

Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances.

It is an unusual set of circumstances. But we have the same description of events from a number of different people.

A insignificant right becomes important when it is assailed.

[Friends describe Libby as engaging and unfailingly polite; it is his habit to stand when a dining partner excuses himself. He is diligent about returning reporters' calls, albeit on deep background and, in most cases,] telling you absolutely nothing, ... is someone who would seem to spend a lot of effort at not getting caught up in something like this.

As with other events, as time passes, the collective knowledge diminishes and people tend to forget about it. We failed in terms of preparedness and response to this event. We can't really afford to forget.