President Clinton chews a cigar and bangs on a drum in his hotel room in Dakar, Senegal, on April 1 after the dismissal of the Paula Jones case. (Fox TV via AP)

This is an archive of Washington Post news and feature stories from April 1998 about the accusations against President Clinton. Links to coverage from other months are on the News Archive page.

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From Thursday, April 30

Judge Rules No Immunity Agreement for Lewinsky
A judge in the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation has determined that Lewinsky has no enforceable immunity agreement with independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr, sources said.

Grand Jury Hears First Lady's Tapes
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr’s prosecutors showed first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s videotaped testimony to the Little Rock grand jury taking evidence in the Whitewater investigation.

From Style:

DiGenova & Toensing, Partners At Jaw
NBC News has hired a pair of Republican House investigators as its newest commentators, kicking up a bit of a fuss on Capitol Hill.

Gingrich Escalates Attacks on Clinton
House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has stepped up his criticism of White House scandals ranging from campaign finance to elements of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's investigation of Whitewater.

Starr to Argue Case for Private Client
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr has decided to argue a major appeals court case for a private client next month, rejecting criticism that he should devote himself entirely to the investigation of President Clinton.

From LEGI-SLATE:

Duel With Clinton Reflects GOP Tilt to Party’s Right
House Speaker Newt Gingrich's claim to the moral high ground in his recent attacks on President Clinton sends the clear signal that the GOP is ready to take the offensive in this election year.

From Monday, April 27

From Style:

Keeping Up With Jones
Amid the crowded confluence of Hollywood and Washington that took place Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the most wanted star was Paula Jones.

From Sunday, April 26

Starr Questions First Lady on Videotape for Grand Jury
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr and his deputies questioned Hillary Rodham Clinton about Whitewater for nearly five hours Saturday at the White House. A videotape of her sworn testimony will be shown to the Little Rock grand jury, which is scheduled to disband May 7.

Jones's Star Shines Brightly at Journalists' Dinner
President Clinton was the most anticipated speaker at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, but the center of attention was in the back of the room, where Paula Jones dined and drew stares and conversation from a steady stream of curious bigwigs.

From Outlook:

Content Analysts on Clinton: Follow the Wording
President Clinton's repeated qualifications and long-winded explanation when asked whether he was ever alone with Monica S. Lewinsky are telling, according to experts in criminal content analysis. But even they admit: It proves nothing.

From Friday, April 24

McDougal Silent at Grand Jury
Susan McDougal again refused to testify about her business dealings with President Clinton before the Whitewater grand jury in Little Rock, setting the stage for a possible criminal contempt indictment.

House Democrats May Ask Discipline for Burton
A House investigation of campaign fund-raising abuses ground to a halt amid Democratic threats to seek disciplinary action against Chairman Dan Burton (R-Ind.) for his description of President Clinton as a "scumbag."

Hubbell Got $700,000 for Little or No Work, House Probe Shows
Webster L. Hubbell received more than $700,000, most of it from friends of President Clinton and Democratic Party supporters, when he was under pressure from to provide information about Clinton in the Whitewater investigation, congressional investigators have determined.

Style Showcase:

Whitewater Mud Hits the Messengers
Even journalists cannot escape the polarizing swirl of the Clinton controversies. They are finding their motives questioned, their backgrounds scoured, their relationships with sources scrutinized.

NOW Won't Back Jones
The National Organization for Women announced today it would stay out of Paula Jones's appeal in her sexual harassment case against President Clinton, citing overwhelming opposition from its members nationwide.

Bush: Don't Force Secret Service Agents to Testify
Former president George Bush has come out in opposition to forcing Secret Service agents to testify about whether they saw President Clinton with former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

From Wednesday, April 22

'Scumbag' Comment Divides Panel
A bitter dispute has erupted in the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee over Chairman Dan Burton's (R-Ind.) description of President Clinton as a "scumbag."

Justice Department Fights Starr on Privilege
The Justice Department said in a sealed brief that the Secret Service should be allowed to invoke legal privilege to block testimony by officers about President Clinton's ties to Monica S. Lewinsky, officials said.

Hale Loses Bid to Halt Trial
A Supreme Court justice refused to block Whitewater witness David Hale's trial in Arkansas state court on charges of lying to insurance regulators.

From Tuesday, April 21

Ex-Secret Serviceman Details Clinton-Lewinsky Meeting
Retired Secret Service officer Lewis C. Fox said that President Clinton told him and an agent on duty in the fall of 1995 to "close the door" after Monica S. Lewinsky walked in because "she'll be in here for a while."

Hale Asks Court to Block Trial
Whitewater witness David Hale asked a Supreme Court justice to block his trial in Arkansas on charges of lying to insurance regulators, saying immunity granted to him by Whitewater prosecutors should shield him.

From Monday, April 20

Attorney Says Tripp Has Been Vilified
An attorney for Linda R. Tripp, whose secret tape recordings triggered the investigation into Monica S. Lewinsky's alleged affair with President Clinton, said yesterday that his client has been unfairly labeled a "betrayer" and now fears being fired from her job at the Pentagon.

From Sunday, April 19

Mother, Son Could Derail Starr Witness
An Arkansas woman who dabbles in astrology says David Hale, one of the chief Whitewater witnesses against President Clinton, received financial support from her former boyfriend and other conservatives who plotted to discredit the president. Hale denies getting money from them.

From Outlook:

Stephanie Mencimer: How to Make a Lasting Impression
That the slap is no longer part of a woman's arsenal is a tragedy. President Clinton might have been better off if Kathleen Willey had followed through on her instinct to slap him.

From Friday, April 17

Paula Jones Vows to Appeal Clinton Case
A teary Paula Jones, barely able to compose herself, announced that she will appeal a federal judge's ruling that her sexual harassment case against President Clinton has no merit.

Starr Declines Pepperdine Because of Investigation
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr said that with "the end not yet in sight" for his investigation, he has scrubbed his plans of eventually taking a post at Pepperdine University in California.

Analysis: Threats Real, but Less Menacing
The decision to appeal means that the claim that has bedeviled Clinton for four years will continue to loom over him and could taint his legacy. Yet by most assessments, Paula Jones's lawyers face an uphill battle.

Compromise Sought on Secret Service
The Justice Department is still attempting to strike a compromise with independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr over Secret Service testimony.

From Wednesday, April 15

Justice Department to Fight Starr on Privilege Question
The Justice Department has decided to fight efforts to compel testimony from Secret Service officers who protect President Clinton, setting the stage for a long court battle in the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation.

From Tuesday, April 14

Clinton Attorney Resumes Attacks on Starr
President Clinton's personal attorney launched a broadside at independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr, charging that Starr cannot "credibly" probe allegations that a key Whitewater witness was paid by conservatives.

From Sunday, April 12

Exiting Center Stage, Jones Weighs Appeal
Paula Jones's center-stage spotlight is fading out as she decides whether to appeal a judge's decision to throw out her sexual misconduct lawsuit against President Clinton.

Panetta's Advice Annoys White House
President Clinton's former White House chief of staff Leon E. Panetta is traveling the public airwaves, calling for the president to fully explain the Monica S. Lewinsky matter, much to the annoyance of the White House.

From Outlook:

The Battle Over Subpoenas
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's use of subpoenas to pin down Monica S. Lewinsky's book buying habits has provided fodder for those who argue that independent counsels have too much power and aren't accountable enough.

From Style:

Stuart Taylor's Mea Culpa
Anti-Clinton journalist Stuart Taylor now acknowledges it was wrong to not tell readers that he had been discussing a possible job with Kenneth Starr.

U.S. Urges Starr on Alleged Payments
The Justice Department urged independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr to investigate whether a key Whitewater witness was paid by a conservative activist, but alerted Starr that he might face a conflict of interest.

From Style:

Judge: First Amendment at Issue in Book Subpoena
A judge has set a high bar for independent counsel Kenneth Starr, saying he will have to show "a compelling need" if he is to get the titles of books bought by Monica Lewinsky.

Online Extra:

Rep. Bob Barr: Impeach the President?
Bob Barr, the congressman from Georgia's 7th District, is leading the fight to impeach President Clinton. Typing on a computer in his district office near Atlanta, Barr spent an hour in a live, online discussion answering some of the questions submitted by washingtonpost.com readers.

From Thursday, April 9

Policy Blitz Signals Clinton Is Back on Track
With the Paula Jones case dismissed and the Monica S. Lewinsky matter pending, President Clinton is feeling a mix of relief and resentment, friends and advisers say. In a brief respite from controversy, he has delved back into policy priorities, such as saving Social Security.

Clinton, Lewinsky Lawyers Want Closed Court
Lawyers for President Clinton, the White House and Monica S. Lewinsky joined forces argue that a variety of hearings on executive privilege and attorney-client privilege should remain closed to the media.

Grand Jury: Sword, Shield or Rubber Stamp?
The proceedings of the grand jury probing the Monica S. Lewinsky matter are secret. But the intense media coverage of the probe has focused attention on the broad powers granted to the federal panel.

From Style:

Having a Bland Old Time Outside the Starr Jury
For all the members of the media waiting outside the Clinton-Lewinsky grand jury, the highlight of the day is the arrival of the squeaky cart that carries jurors' lunches.

Starr Report to House Underway
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's team has already written large sections of its report on potentially impeachable offenses by President Clinton in the Monica S. Lewinsky matter, sources said.

Starr Seeks Document From Jones Case
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr is looking into the failure of President Clinton and his attorneys to turn over correspondence from Kathleen E. Willey when directed to by lawyers in the now-dismissed Paula Jones lawsuit.

GOP's Armey Throws the First Stone
House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey's caustic remark that President Clinton is "shameless" marks a bolder approach to how lawmakers are choosing to deal with the sex and perjury allegations against the president.

In the Loop: Starr Catches a Flack
An attentive "In the Loop" fan listens in as Kenneth W. Starr discusses public relations with Charles G. Bakaly III, chief spokesman for the independent counsel in another Clinton administration probe and, as of next week, Starr's new PR guy.

From Tuesday, April 7

Starr Weighing Role in Private Case
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr is rethinking plans to make a complicated appeals court argument for a private client in May, when he will be trying to finish his report on the probe of President Clinton.

Hearing Set on Foster Notes
The Supreme Court announced that it would speed up review of Kenneth W. Starr's demand to see notes of conversations between White House deputy counsel Vincent W. Foster Jr. and his lawyer.

From Monday, April 6

Clinton Says He Feels 'Freer' to Focus on Duties
President Clinton said the judge's decision to dismiss the Paula Jones case was in the national interest and will liberate him to focus attention on important issues such as tobacco, education and Social Security.

From Style:

Getting Down to Business With Nathan Landow
White House aide Kathleen Willey claimed that she had discussed her deposition in the Paula Jones case with Democratic fund raiser Nathan Landow. Now Landow tells his story.

From Sunday, April 5

Poll Finds Impatience With Starr Investigation
With the Paula Jones case dismissed, an overwhelming majority of Americans say independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr should move to conclude his investigation of President Clinton, according to a new Washington Post Poll.

Companies, Courts Differ on What's Harassment
The outcome of the Paula Jones case has underscored a surprising truth: Women who believe they have been harassed will find greater sympathy in parts of corporate America than in the nation's courts.

From Outlook:

Gary Hart: The Age of Scrutiny Has Not Given Us Better Leaders
The media attention given to Paula Jones's allegations is cause for wonder how we managed to elect anyone of stature in pre-scrutiny days – and how, in the Age of Scrutiny, we have elected so few.

Todd Gitlin: A Clarifying Moment in the Politics of Gender
Women and men who work together should be able to rest a bit easier now because U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright's ruling helps clarify what sexual harassment is – and isn't.

Suzanna Sherry: Writ Large – Frivolous Litigants Beware
Judge Susan Webber Wright was able to withstand political pressure and reach the legally correct result for one reason: The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary.

Stephen Ambrose: No Precedent for Presidents, or Anyone Else
Considering the variety of contretemps that current and previous presidents have gotten themselves into, it is clear we cannot even begin to anticipate those that future presidents will face.

Mary McGrory: Time for Clinton to Stop Wasting Time
Now that President Clinton has again avoided facing truth or consequences, it's time he step up and take on one of Washington's most withering battles: gun control.

Style Showcase:

Tony Kornheiser: There She Goes, Miss America
Judge Susan Webber Wright's ruling seems to say President Clinton can do as he pleases with whoever pleases him.

From Saturday, April 4

Sources: Gingrich Optimistic About Starr Report
House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) sought to reassure his colleagues that Kenneth W. Starr's upcoming report on the Clinton investigation would brighten their political fortunes, according to Republican sources.

Lawyers' Bills Come Due in Jones Case
Facing at least $1.5 million in unpaid bills from the Paula Jones case, President Clinton's legal team is preparing to file suit against two insurance companies that stopped financing the president's defense last year.

Style Showcase:

Clinton Critic Weighs Starr Offer
White House officials were livid Friday after learning that columnist Stuart Taylor, one of President Clinton's harshest critics, recently negotiated for a job with independent counsel Kenneth Starr.

Bookstores' Title Fight in Lewinsky Matter
Federal prosecutors defended their scrutiny of Monica Lewinsky's book purchases Friday, saying government investigators had also examined the reading habits of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy J. McVeigh and "Unabomber" Theodore J. Kaczynski.

From Friday, April 3

Starr Vows Vigorous Pursuit Despite Dismissal
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr vowed to continue his pursuit of alleged misconduct by President Clinton and others related to the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit.

Timing of Africa Trip, Dismissal Celebrated
Some senior White House aides, buoyant over President Clinton's successful Africa trip and the dismissal of the Paula Jones lawsuit, predicted a new phase in his presidency.

Reno Wants Inquiry on Hale's Funding
Attorney General Janet Reno said that investigators should look into allegations that businessman David Hale, who helped launch the Whitewater probe, received money from conservative activists while he was a key witness.

Lewinsky's 1st Attorney Told to Hand Over Documents
The judge overseeing the Monica S. Lewinsky probe ordered her first attorney to testify and turn over certain documents, concluding that the attorney-client privilege should be breached, sources said.

Ginsburg Praises Dismissal of Jones Suit
William H. Ginsburg, the lawyer for Monica S. Lewinsky, praised the judge who dismissed the Paula Jones lawsuit for doing "the right thing."

Jones's Chances Small on Appeal, Some Experts Say
Lawyers who specialize in sexual harassment law say recent rulings suggest that U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright's dismissal of Paula Jones's lawsuit may withstand an almost-certain appeal.

Many Had Hand in Jones Case's Escalation
In the four years after it was filed, Paula Jones's lawsuit against President Clinton made history and brought out the worst in U.S. legal and political systems.

President's Lawyer Relishes Victory
With Paula Jones's sexual harassment suit summarily dismissed, it seemed that nothing could dampen the mood of the normally volatile lawyer Bob Bennett.

Style Showcase:

For Media, It's the Trial That Got Away
The decision to toss out Paula Jones's suit against President Clinton has, without warning, deprived a ravenous press corps of one of the more sensational scandal stories of the '90s.

Bookstores Have Defenders, Skeptics in Bind Over Subpoenas
The nation's booksellers, publishers and librarians vowed defiance against independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr's subpoena of two Washington bookstores.

From Thursday, April 2

Judge Dismisses Jones Lawsuit
A federal judge threw out Paula Jones’s sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton, abruptly calling off a legal struggle that spawned a criminal probe that has threatened Clinton's administration.

Analysis: Case Not Even a Close Call
Among legal specialists, the conventional wisdom about Jones v. Clinton was that it was a weak case. But Judge Susan Webber Wright decided it wasn't even a close call.

Analysis: Clinton Wins, but Damage Is Done
The dismissal of the Paula Jones lawsuit gave President Clinton a clear-cut legal victory over his opponents. Still, the case has damaged Clinton and has made an indelible mark on the U.S. political system.

White House Has Mixed Reaction
For the Clinton administration, news of the lawsuit's dismissal prompted feelings of relief clouded by resentment at a case that has imposed vast financial and still-uncertain political costs on the president.

Starr to Move Ahead 'Expeditiously'
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr said that the dismissal of Paula Jones's lawsuit will not affect his probe into whether the president may have committed perjury or tried to obstruct justice in the Jones case.

Is Scandal Over? Politicians Disagree
Democrats and Republicans differed sharply about whether the judge's decision would extricate President Clinton from the ongoing scandal.

For Many, Ruling Was Welcome News
From New York to Los Angeles, the announcement that a federal judge had dismissed the sexual harassment suit against President Clinton seemed to stir something in the American people. That something was relief.

Style Showcase:

TV Pundits Seize the Day
An hour after the dismissal of the Jones suit, the talking heads were talking about the outcome of a possible appeal. And how the decision would affect the president’s popularity. And Kenneth Starr’s investigation. And GOP prospects in the 1998 elections.

Clinton Detractors Shake Heads Over Judge's Decision
The stunning ruling of U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright landed with all the force of an exploding artillery shell, leaving Clinton’s antagonists shocked and dazed.

Reliable Source: Bookstores v. Starr
Ken Starr has slapped a subpoena on Barnes & Noble in Georgetown, but it and Kramerbooks, which was subpoenaed last week, are fighting back.

Online Extra:

Ruling Throwing Out Jones v. Clinton
Text of Judge Wright's April 1 opinion throwing out the Jones v. Clinton lawsuit. "There are no genuine issues for trial in this case," she wrote. (Also available as a 3 megabyte PDF file requiring the Adobe Acrobat 3.0 Reader.)

No Shortage of Opinion on Jones v. Clinton
Though they professed to be tired of the whole Jones v. Clinton legal battle, Washington area residents weren't too weary to take a stand on the latest developments in the case.

From Wednesday, April 1

Jones Lawyers Seek Trial Delay
Paula Jones's attorneys asked an appeals court to delay the trial in her sexual harassment lawsuit until they can gather and use evidence related to allegations that President Clinton had an affair with former White House aide Monica S. Lewinsky and urged her to lie about it.

Starr's Bill So Far: About $30 Million
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr has spent nearly $30 million investigating President Clinton and the first lady, according to a new report from the General Accounting Office.

For New Chief Investigator, Duty Calls
At 68, David Schippers is entering the nation's political fray for the first time as the House Judiciary Committee's chief investigator.