Lehman’s allies dismissed Moses’ undocumented accusations with elegant contempt.

Evidence

If there happened to be any truth in this onslaught of innuendo, Moses did not provide any convincing proof of it. Not one of his more serious charges was documented. Their subjects began treating them almost as jokes. When reporters asked Straus for his reply, he would only say: “Bob Moses will be in the limelight for another ten days and is entitled to all the fun he can get out of it. As one of his oldest friends and the man who sponsored his entire park program in the State Senate, I wish him all the luck in the world.” — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 1823

Categorization

• CANDY: Straus’s gracious dismissal is a masterclass in reputational armor against a smear campaign.