A Woman in Charge

by Carl Bernstein

  Later that morning…his resignation: Author’s interview with confidential sources.

  As the pressure…at stake, too: Clinton, Living History, p. 442, and author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “Well, this girl…not?”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “I will never truly…day”: Clinton, Living History, p. 441.

  “why he felt…stupidity”: Clinton, My Life, p. 774.

  “When the facts…understand”: Erskine Bowles testimony from Independent Counsel Report.

  Around the same time…events: Clinton, Living History; Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars.

  But, as Clinton…matter altogether: Author’s interview with confidential White House sources and Clinton friends.

  “You poor…through”: Independent Counsel Report.

  “I didn’t do…up”: Ibid.

  “forgiveness”: Author’s interview with Dick Morris.

  “ashen”: Author’s interview with Mark Penn.

  David Kendall reached her…closets: Clinton, Living History, p. 442.

  “Absolutely”: John F. Harris, “FBI Taped Aide’s Allegations: Clinton Denies Affair, Says He ‘Did Not Urge Anyone’ to Lie,” Washington Post, January 22, 1998, p. 1.

  “made a sexual demand on me”: Sidney Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003), p. 341.

  He said it was hard: Ibid., p. 340.

  They had always been within sight: Ibid., p. 342.

  “I had never seen…himself”: Ibid.

  “I was close…marriage”: Ibid., p. 343.

  “empathy”: Ibid., p. 339.

  “…fatherless and poor…connect”: Ibid.

  “I had been…phase”: Ibid., p. 340.

  “His revelations [of]…conspiracy”: Ibid.

  “G.K.”: Don Van Natta Jr., “White House’s All-Out Attack on Starr Is Paying Off, with His Help,” New York Times, March 2, 1998, p. 12.

  Blumenthal first met…its inner orbit: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 5.

  “a Cataline conspiracy”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 340.

  “The smoke would…clear”: Clinton, My Life, p. 775.

  “a more balanced”: Ibid.

  “the hysteria was overwhelming”: Ibid.

  “There is not…relationship”: Bill Clinton, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, January 21, 1998.

  Blumenthal’s totally politicized…she suggested: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 340; Clinton, Living History, p. 449; author’s interview with confidential sources.

  Watching in his…the White House: Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy, p. 246; Clinton, Living History, p. 444.

  “My first instinct was just…to’”: Author’s interview with Carol Biondi.

  “Well, we just have to win”: Independent Counsel Report.

  The next morning…and Hillary: Author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “She called and said…being received”: Author’s interview with Mark Penn.

  “her…for a moment”: Author’s interview with Mark Gearan.

  “Step by step…impeachment”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 367.

  “help her”: Ibid.

  “I replied that…through”: Ibid.

  “I think I’m going to get sick”: Ibid., p. 325.

  Thomason believed the…with a verdict”: Author’s interview with confidential sources; Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy, p. 251; Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 370.

  The president, after…about to say: Author’s interview with confidential sources; Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy.

  “to fulfill my…sustainable”: Author’s interview with Robert Torricelli.

  “deader really than…stroke”: This Week, January 25, 1999.

  “There is talk…House”: Howard Kurtz, “In a Blizzard of Allegations, Did the Media Throw Caution tothe Wind?,” Washington Post, January 27, 1998.

  “I am very pleased…Clinton”: U.S. Newswire, January 26, 1998.

  “Now I have…night”: Ibid.

  “But I want to say…again”: Ibid.

  “I did not have…you”: Ibid.

  Hillary, Bill, and Kendall…area of exploration: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars; author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “the most important person”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 373.

  “I want to say…lie”: Ruth Marcus and Thomas B. Edsall, “Jordan Gives Beleaguered President His Presence,” Washington Post, January 23, 1998, p. 1.

  “Hillary had to walk…scandal”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 373.

  “part of the clique of elves”: Ibid., p. 368.

  “Now they think…story”: Ibid.

  “a public uproar”: Ibid.

  “There has been…Well, we’ve…He has…Yes…chief defender…Well…this is…Well…I’ve seen…at work here”: Today, January 27, 1998.

  “You tell them!”: Author’s interview with Nicole Boxer.

  “Everyone was yelling…What do you know?’”: Ibid.

  Hillary’s brothers believed…their wives: Author’s interview with Nicole Boxer; author’s interview with confidential source.

  “I guess that…with us”: Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy, p. 258.

  “We have more…strong”: Bill Clinton, State of the Union address, January 27, 1998.

  “Now if we…century”: Ibid.

  “The speech reminded…him”: Alison Mitchell, “Republicans Seek to Seize High Ground as Democrats Begin to Rally Around President,” New York Times, January 28, 1998.

  “While no proof has…causes”: Tim Weiner and Jill Abramson, “In the Case Against Clinton, Some Links to Conservatives,” New York Times, January 28, 1998.

  “Part of my duty…information”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars.

  There had been…February 3: Author’s interview with confidential sources and Nicole Boxer.

  “And she said…House’”: Author’s interview with Nancy Bekavac.

  “[Hillary said], ‘Tell…I hung up…for her”: Ibid.

  “Clinton’s political enemies…presidency”: Richard Morin and Claudia Deane, “President’s Popularity Hits a High: Majority in Poll Say Political Enemies Are Out to Get Him,” Washington Post, February 1, 1998.

  “Now you know…case”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 397.

  “Conspiracy or Coincidence”: “Conspiracy or Coincidence?,” Newsweek, February 9, 1998.

  “overreached the facts…sex”: Thomas Oliphant, “The Witness Who Wasn’t,” Boston Globe, February 17, 1998.

  “In essence, I was…as I could”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 411.

  “the key”: Clinton, Living History, p. 450.

  “These accusations against…anywhere”: Ibid.

  “Too many lies…come out”: Pete Yost, “Clinton Says He Told the Truth About Willey Encounter,” Associated Press, March 16, 1998.

  “When she came…it”: Deposition of Bill Clinton, January 17, 1998, District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

  Four days after…once disclosed: Author’s interview with confidential sources and Office of Independent Counsel.

  (When some of…expurgate it): Woodward, Shadow, p. 454.

  “The president of the…officials’”: Ben Evans, “Gingrich Tells Christian Group of Affair,” Associated Press, March 9, 2007.

  “Speaker Gingrich is talking to…I know…talking about”: Jonathan Broder, “Gingrich’s Impeachment Scenario,” Salon, April 29, 1998.

  “credible”: Guy Gugliotta, “House Republicans Wary of Plan for Starr Panel,” Washington Post, March 20, 1998.

  “we are now not…settings”: Ibid.

  “faith the people…underway”: Ibid. '

  “the earthy stoicism of rural women”: Sheehy, Hillary’s Choice, p. 305.

  “We can do…bit”: Author’s interview with Diane Blair.

  “because I was…stupid”: Ibid.

  “the joy went out…as open…to know”: Ibid.
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br />   “She would call me…to anyone”: Ibid.

  Later, Hillary would…talk of sex: Clinton, Living History; author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “This is fantastic”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “We did not act…genocide”: “Clinton’s Painful Words of Sorrow and Chagrin,” Associated Press, March 26, 1998.

  “I never spent any…Whitewater”: Steve Barnes, “McDougal Trial Sees Mrs. Clinton’s Videotape,” New York Times, March 17, 1999.

  “They would hold…affection”: Author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “By May…him.”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “I think she handled…situation”: Author’s interview with Mary Mel French.

  Hillary told Kendall…against impeachment: Author’s interview with confidential sources; Clinton, Living History, p. 465.

  Bill went to Linda…declined: Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy, p. 310.

  Hillary later claimed…: Clinton, Living History, p. 465.

  “My husband may…to me”: Ibid.

  “President Weighs Admitting…Contacts”: Richard L. Berke, “President Weighs Admitting He Had Sexual Contacts,” New York Times, August 14, 1998.

  “This time…bed”: Clinton, Living History, p. 465.

  “much more serious”: Ibid., p. 466.

  “inappropriate intimacy”: Ibid.

  “brief and sporadic”: Ibid.

  “I could hardly…Chelsea’”: Ibid.

  “dumbfounded, heartbroken…at all”: Ibid.

  “She should have…spot”: Author’s interview with Sara Ehrman.

  “he had lied to her, too”: Clinton, Living History, p. 466.

  “irreparable breach”: Ibid.

  “Third Way”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 459.

  “‘embarrassed’”: Ibid., p. 461.

  “Hillary had hoped…gesture”: Ibid.

  “They just thought…Mr. President, were…It depends on…inappropriate intimate contact…I don’t have…I believed that…Most of my time…gave me”: Independent Counsel Report.

  “touching her breast…genitalia”: Ibid.

  “Hillary thinks it’s…around”: Author’s interview with James Carville.

  “It was like…died”: Ibid.

  “She’d obviously been…with me’”: Ibid.

  At the end…his statement: Clinton, Living History, p. 467.

  “I don’t think…somber thing”: Author’s interview with James Carville.

  “Her mind was elsewhere”: Ibid.

  “out of habit…love”: Clinton, Living History, p. 46.

  “Well, Bill, this…it”: Ibid., p. 468.

  “including questions about…As you know…This has gone…life”: Bill Clinton, Speech to the Nation, August 17, 1998.

  “not adequate”: Dan Balz, “Hill Democrats View Speech as a Failure,” Washington Post, August 20, 1998.

  “What were we…prosecutor?”: Ibid.

  “It was all right”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 465.

  “Hillary also approved…of all”: Ibid.

  “bantering”: Ibid.

  “They were still…possible”: Ibid.

  “She believes in the…public”: Ruth Marcus, “First Lady ‘Committed’ to Her Marriage: Aide Says President ‘Misled’ His Wife on Lewinsky Relationship,” Washington Post, August 19, 1998.

  “Chelsea, I think…point”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “It was awkward”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “looked at me…serious”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  Hillary slept upstairs…no exception: Clinton, My Life, p. 803; author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “[He said] that he was…survive’”: Author’s interview with Robert Torricelli. 519 “Well, when I…one”: Ibid.

  “‘You’re still a…to her”: Ibid.

  “Our target was…today”: “Clinton’s Words: ‘There Will Be No Sanctuary for Terrorists,’” New York Times, August 21, 1998, p. 12.

  He talked about Jackie…: Clinton, Living History, p. 470.

  Hillary and Chelsea…really loved her: Clinton, Living History, p. 470.

  “She was very…easy”: Author’s interview with Diane Blair.

  Bill returned to…as well: Author’s interview with friends of the Clintons’.

  “thaw”: Clinton, My Life, p. 805.

  “shell-shocked”: Author’s interview with William Styron.

  “devastated…composure”: Ibid.

  “Everyone sensed the…through”: Ibid.

  “a pompous lecture…sense”: Ibid.

  “I remember an…way”: Ibid.

  “They were struggling…sources”: Ibid.

  “that Pittsburgh nut”: Ibid.

  “She’s plainly a…intelligence”: Ibid.

  “She is a…today”: Ibid.

  “a new phrase…president”: Clinton, Living History, p. 471.

  “the reason he…typical”: Madeleine Albright, Madam Secretary (New York: Hyperion, 2003), p. 452.

  “I thought the meeting…say that”: Author’s interview with Donna Shalala.

  “I wasn’t sure…get it”: Ibid.

  Hillary was preparing…Clinton go: Author’s interview with confidential source on Clinton defense team; Office of Independence Counsel; Woodward, Shadow.

  “the narrative shows…information”: Woodward, Shadow, p. 453.

  That afternoon, the…on the Internet: Ibid., p. 465.

  “This is about…person”: Harris, Survivor, p. 351.

  “The core of the…blow job”: Woodward, Shadow, p. 475.

  “So Hillary had…weekend”: Author’s interview with Betsy Johnson Ebeling.

  “moving on separate…ourselves”: Author’s interview with Diane Blair.

  “surreal”: Ibid.

  Account of Stevie Wonder episode from author’s interview with Betsy Johnson Ebeling.

  “If you were my…nose”: Peter Baker, The Breach: Inside the Impeachment and Trial of William Jefferson Clinton (New York: Scribner, 2000), p. 104.

  “The fact is that…proceedings”: Ibid.

  “a philanderer”: Ibid.

  “a liar”: Baker, Ibid.

  “offended at what…him”: Ibid.

  “We have often…your life”: John F. Harris and Juliet Eilperin, “Clinton Allies Seek Compromise on Hill: GOP Pursues Vote on Inquiry; Lawyers Cite Starr’s Omissions,” Washington Post, September 23, 1998, p. 1.

  “You could feel…watching”: Author’s interview with Melanne Verveer.

  “Grace strikes us…happen”: Clinton, Living History, p. 470.

  “She was on fire…for you”: Author’s interview with Nicole Boxer.

  “We have to…real issues”: Clinton, Living History, p. 471.

  “I will never…topic”: Ceci Connolly and Howard Kurtz, “Gingrich Orchestrated Lewinsky Ads,” Washington Post, October 30, 1998.

  “What did you tell your kids?”: Ibid.

  “We’re going to win…losing”: Toobin, A Vast Conspiracy, p. 336.

  “With some exceptions…humiliation”: Sally Quinn, “In Washington, That Letdown Feeling,” Washington Post, November 2, 1998.

  On election night…by men: Harris, The Survivor, p. 353.

  Behind the scenes, Henry…. could succeed: Hyde’s Illinois district included Park Ridge. A few weeks later it would be revealed—as a result of research by journalists initiated by the White House—that Hyde had a five-year adulterous affair in the 1960s. The revelation lead to an apology for his “youthful indiscretions.”

  “mechanically defending…not engaged”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “I would make a point…nationally”: Author’s interview with Greg Craig.

  The midterm…no doubt”: Author’s interview with White House sources and friends of Hillary Clinton’s.

  “This is how�
�doubt”: Author’s interview with Nicole Boxer.

  “I think you have…each other”: Author’s interview with Melanne Verveer.

  “We in the…she said”: Blumenthal, The Clinton Wars, p. 498.

  “providing perjurious, false…jury”: Articles of Impeachment; As Delivered to the Senate by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, January 8, 1999.

  “is a blatant and disgraceful…gain”: Steve Gutterman, “Most Coloradans Support Military Action in Iraq; Many Question Timing,” Associated Press, December 17, 1998.

  “timing and policy…subject to question”: Helen Dewar, “Lott Retreats from Criticism of Airstrikes: Senate Majority Leader Calls for ‘United Front’ a Day After Questioning Attack’s Timing,” Washington Post, December 18, 1998.

  “I think the vast majority…together”: James Bennet, “Clinton Reported as Very Troubled,” New York Times, December 19, 1998.

  “as defiant as…the answer”: Melinda A. Henneberger, “Clinton’s Top Defender Rallies Troops at Front,” New York Times, December 20, 1998.

  “I have on…spiritual counseling”: Blumenthal, Clinton Wars, p. 547.

  “Sir, you have…your post”: Ibid., p. 550.

  “I can only…January sixth”: Ibid.

  “a worthy and…man”: Peter Baker and Juliet Eilperin, “Clinton Impeached: House Approves Articles Charging Perjury, Obstruction; Mostly Partisan Vote Shifts Drama to Senate,” Washington Post, December 20, 1998.

  “a great disservice to…presidents”: Blumenthal, Clinton Wars, p. 552.

  Chapter 18: A Woman in Charge

  “Very specifically we would…office”: Author’s interview with Diane Blair.

  “a particularly hard week…She did…in any way”: Ibid.

  “the wrecking of…humiliation”: Author’s interview with confidential source.

  “Prior to this…New York”: Author’s interview with Deborah Sale.

  “when you look at…of this”: Author’s interview with Ann Stock.

  Mandy Grunwald had worked…was becoming inevitable: Author’s interview with confidential sources.

  “I intend to…about”: Adam Nagourney, “Hillary Clinton Begins Pre-Campaign in a New Role for Her,” New York Times, July 8, 1999.

  “I would say…White House”: Author’s interview with Sara Ehrman.

  “her years as first lady”: David Kirkpatrick, “Hillary Clinton Book Advance, $8 Million, Is Near Record,” New York Times, December 16, 2000.

  “The deal may…sense”: “Mrs. Clinton’s Book Deal,” Editorial, New York Times, December 22, 2000.