Hillary Clinton: 'This Is A Battle'

Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Jan. 27) -- First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday firmly denied allegations that her husband had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Mrs. Clinton blamed the sex allegations on a "a vast right-wing conspiracy" against President Bill Clinton.

She made the statement during an interview on NBC's "Today" show, where she was asked to comment on accusations and rumors that have caused a political uproar and even triggered speculation about the possibility of impeachment of the president.

"I do believe that this is a battle," the first lady said.

"Look at the very people who are involved in this. They have popped up in other settings. The great story here for anybody willing to find it, write about it and explain it is this vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for president," Mrs. Clinton said.

The first lady called the sex and perjury allegations swirling around her husband part of an effort "to undo the results of two elections."

An independent counsel, Kenneth Starr, has expanded his investigation to include charges that the president may have encouraged the ex-intern, Monica Lewinsky, now 24, to lie under oath about whether she and the president had an affair.

"That is not going to be proven true," Clinton said. She said she was fighting the charges "not only because I love and believe my husband" but for the sake of the nation.

"Bill and I have been accused of everything, including murder, by some of the very same people who are behind these allegations," she said. "So from my perspective, this is part of a continuing political campaign against my husband.

The allusion to a murder accusation stems from the suicide of White House aide Vince Foster in 1993.

While Mrs. Clinton said she would not comment on all the specific allegations against her husband, she did say that she and the president had discussed all the accusations, innuendoes, and the whole "feeding frenzy" of this latest scandal to hit the White House. And she added that, in light of this "political campaign" against her husband, the best thing to do was "to be patient, take a deep breath and the truth will come out."

Speaking calmly but firmly in the "Today" interview, Mrs. Clinton said she does not recall meeting Lewinsky when she worked at the White House. She said she and the president have discussed the former intern at great length and "as this matter unfurls, the entire country will have more information."

Mrs. Clinton said it was possible her husband gave gifts to Lewinsky but said if that is true it is because he is gregarious and giving to everyone he meets.

"I think it's possible, of course," she said. "I've seen him take his tie off and hand it to someone."

The president in his public statements, and Lewinsky, in a deposition, said they did not have sexual relations. But Lewinsky reportedly described such a relationship with him in taped conversations with a friend and has also said privately that she was urged to lie about it.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Tuesday Jan. 27, 1998

• Clinton: Use Budget Surpluses To Fix Social Security
• Lott Charts a Slightly Different Course
• Grand Jury Convened Without Lewinsky Testimony
• Details Of A Settlement Offer
• Lewinsky Allegations Overshadow State Of The Union
• White House Scandal At A Glance
• Report: Lewinsky Allegedly Forged Document
• Hillary Clinton: 'This Is A Battle'
• Chelsea Deals With A Scandal

Analysis:
• Speech Memorable For What Clinton Didn't Say

Poll:
• Clinton Gets A Bounce
• Gender Gap Shows Up In Controversy
• Most Americans Still Have Confidence In Clinton

Profile:
• Kenneth Starr

Transcripts:
• President Bill Clinton's State Of The Union Addresss