In "The AgeofInnocence, " Edith Wharton wrote of turn-of-the-century American society belles stowing away their fresh-from-Paris dresses for at least a season or two, so as to not appear vulgar in New York society.
Misty-eyed historians often cite Nixon's clumsy demise as the end of an ageofinnocence in U.S. politics as voters realized that even presidents were willing to sacrifice truth, justice and the American way in search of a quick vote.