"Mistakes Were Made": A Short History

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: Field Notes

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a White House Correspondent for CBS News.

In taking responsibility yesterday for the missteps in the firing of those U.S. Attorneys, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales acknowledged that "mistakes were made."

He didn't say that he made the mistakes – but that he takes responsibility for them.

And he said steps were being taking so that "the mistakes" don't happen again.

If that kind of linguistic gymnastics sounds familiar, it should.

Referring to mistakes in the abstract is a common practice for those at the highest levels of the U.S. Government.

A quick search of presidential statements shows that every recent U.S. president has used that phrase in one form or another to acknoledge errors in policy, judgment or action.

Most recently, President Bush spoke those words in his address to the nation early this year to explain why a new strategy on Iraq was needed.

"Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me," he said. He didn't say he made the mistakes, or that mistakes were definitely made, but if they happened, the buck, though not the blame, stops at his desk.

In responding to questions about the flawed Administration response to Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Bush said it again.

"If there's any mistakes made at the Federal level, I, of course, accept responsibility."

We heard that phrase during the Clinton years too.

Responding to a question about U.S. military presence on the Japanese island of Okinawa, then-President Clinton said:

"And where mistakes have been made, we've tried to correct them, and we will continue to do that."

Again, after the blunder in which the U.S. mistakenly bombed China's Embassy in Belgrade in 1999, Bill Clinton said:

"A series of very bad mistakes were made, and a tragic accident occurred."

The phrase helped the first President Bush out of some tight spots too.

Asked to explain earlier U.S. support for Iraq's Saddam Hussein during his war with Iran, Mr. Bush the elder said:

"So, if there was a mistake made, in trying to move them along a more civilized path by having contacts as we did, fine."

The first presidential use of the phrase over the last 25 years can be attributed to Ronald Reagan.

In his State of the Union speech in 1987, admitted to missteps in the Iran-Contra Scandal, President Reagan told the nation:

"We did not achieve what we wished, and serious mistakes were made in trying to do so."

There are plenty of other uses of that phrase in recent history.

If I left out an important one, I readily admit "mistakes were made."

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by ericmichael1 March 15, 2007 12:18 PM EDT: Mark,

This is neither a Republican nor a Democratic comment:

Alberto Gonzales admitted that certain mistakes were made, but why is it suddenly "Off with his head" for every high member of government who has made a mistake? If that were the case for ALL in government, half of the congressional seats would be perpetually empty waiting for replacements. And they would have to call him/her "Mr.(Ms.) INTERIM President" all of the time!

Let's see---- how about this as a better "story":

WHY can't Congress and the White House pass a spending bill BEFORE October 1st EVERY year (the U.S. Dept. of Justice, amongst others, STILL has no spending bill SIX MONTHS into this fiscal year, let alone for next fiscal year)? Get on that one, Mark.

"Off with their heads" if they don't, RIGHT?

Eric; Reply to this comment


by jazztech March 14, 2007 3:23 PM EDT: Harry Smith's disgusting, feverish reporting on this story on this morning's Early Show was over the top. I learned last night on the internet of Clinton's un-precedented firings, and yet no mention of that purely political action vs. the justified actions taken against people who failed to pursue Democrat voter fraud cases - a much more important story. Just mention what is relevant!! We are not watching you anymore.; Reply to this comment


by one_american March 14, 2007 2:46 PM EDT: I don't remember Bill Clinton saying that "mistakes were made" when he fired all 93 attorneys shortly after he took office.

And not even Hillary Clinton seems to remember that fact, nor does the press, for that matter.

The liberal press and the liberal Democrats must be getting the same memos.; Reply to this comment