Bill Clinton has left office essentially unchanged: now, as always, a man convinced that no criticism of him can ever have justice, no fact that wounds his pride can ever be true — and convinced, as well, that any who see things differently are dishonorable. This is a personality disorder, one that once would have seemed incompatible with the law and spirit of American democracy. And yet this disordered man has been our president, and he has successfully bent democratic politics to his needs. Time and again, the nation has been disgusted by Clinton. Time and again, he has indignantly rebuked us for it. And time and again, we have ultimately decided to distrust ourselves, turn on Clinton’s accusers and victims, and let him off scot free — that is, with his perfect vanity undisturbed.

In short, America has “enabled” Bill Clinton and his presidency, as the pop psychologists would have it. The question becomes whether, in the process, we have also enshrined as acceptable — and thus invited — future such presidents and presidencies.