Macqueen, who starts with the story of how the news of Winston Churchill’s first stroke was concealed — with the connivance of leading press barons — and governce carried out in his me, breaks his accounts into nine parts, which include those dealing with sexual peccadilloes, fincial scandals, political gambles — including Watergate — political spin, and broken or misleading assurances. Though in giving the background, course and consequences of these cases of dishonesty and making an incisive summation, he is also frequently wittily caustic.