A Lesson in Handling the Press

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is NOT the highly placed administration source for information about Valerie Plame. There was never a doubt. Why not?

Because when Secretary Rumsfeld spoke to Bob Woodward in 2004, he immediately published a transcript of the interview so there would be no question about what was said.

He also began the interview with disclaimers that would explain any lapses in detailed memory.

And just to make really really sure there would be no false accusations in the future, he had witnesses present. Several of them.

That's how you talk to the media.

(Thanks to ElephantsInAcademia for point the way to this story.)