This is not because no official would have ever lied to others, but because they would not have lied or concealed the truth under the genuine impression that they were obliged to do so by a promise they had made, or by loyalty to a boss or agency's interpretation of national security needs that outweighed loyalty to higher laws such as the US Constitution.

Under these circumstances, many officials—enough of them to have made a crucial difference—would have chosen not to mislead. The catastrophic follies whose preparation and perpetuation essentially depended on deception would have been averted.

Finally, one further mandated addition to the secrecy oaths would serve these vital goals. Since these oaths are signed so frequently and taken so seriously, there is no better place to remind government employees of their true obligations as stated in the United States' Code of Ethics for Government Service, passed by the US Congress on July 11, 1958: "Any person in government service should put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to the Country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department."