Embellishing JFK2

I suspect Mr. Kerry started "embellishing" back in boarding school as an adolescent compensating for a lack of parental attention. Most children grow out of it. Those that don't leave lots of signals (like cursing someone who'd take a bullet for them.) And if they are very clever people, it can take a long time before they trip over their own fibs and are exposed for what they are.

Mr. Clinton was a very clever rogue (who could keep his fibs straight), but I don't think I ever saw him fib to puff himself up. Mr. Gore was somewhere in-between. Mr. Bush just doesn't, his life and his work are totally consuming as it is, without adding the burden of remembering just who he told what version of what story. It's simpler just to tell the truth as best he knows it, and I've seen him be very clear when he doesn't know (especially in situations where you'd think a powerful person would feel some awkwardness admitting they did not know something). Which means you know exactly where you stand with him. And this makes for a great work environment, camaraderie, and loyalty to the mission and the people.