President Clinton declining to answer reporters' questions about Monica Lewinsky. (AP)

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

From Monday, August 31

Two Leaders' Troubles Loom Over Summit
President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin will meet in Moscow with each facing a domestic crisis that threatens to end his career prematurely.

Clinton 'Vacation' Scarcely Up to Par
President Clinton used his two weeks of self-imposed exile on scenic Martha's Vineyard to sketch what may be the outlines of a plan to rejuvenate his ailing presidency.

From Sunday, August 30

Weakened Clinton May Embolden GOP
As lawmakers return from the August recess, the impact of the investigation of President Clinton is likely to affect nearly everything on the congressional agenda.

From Saturday, August 29

Clinton Talks of 'Self-Inflicted Wounds'
In a speech honoring the 35th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, President Clinton spoke of the pain of "self-inflicted wounds," the struggle for redemption and the path toward to forgiveness.

Lindsey Returns to Grand Jury
Presidential confidant Bruce R. Lindsey's grand jury appearance did not end the fight over his testimony.

First Family Soap Opera, or Spin Cycle?
On Martha's Vineyard, White House aides openly speculated about the first family's domestic turmoil. Was the talk about the Clintons' marriage a new brand of spin?

From Friday, August 28

DeLay Pushes for Resignation
At a time when most Republican political leaders are keeping a cautious distance from the controversy enveloping President Clinton, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay has launched a campaign that he hopes will put pressure on the president to resign.

Currie, Lewinsky Accounts Differ on Gifts
President Clinton's personal secretary, Betty Currie, has testified that Monica S. Lewinsky asked her to take back presidential gifts that had been subpoenaed, contradicting Lewinsky's version of a critical event under investigation.

Clinton Attempts to Change Subject
In his first public appearance since telling Americans he misled them about his 18-month affair with Monica S. Lewinsky, President Clinton attempted to change the subject to safe schools, terrorism and Hurricane Bonnie.

From Thursday, August 27

Advisers Say Clinton Should Say More
President Clinton's political advisers have reached virtually unanimous agreement that he must say more publicly about his relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky.

In Debate, Boxer Assailed on Clinton Scandal
The two candidates vying for a California Senate seat met for their first debate – and from the moment it began, Sen. Barbara Boxer was pressed by her opponent to condemn President Clinton's affair.

Democrats Try to Keep Clear of Clinton
Democratic candidates who had hoped to wrest back control of the House are being peppered with questions about Monica Lewinsky.

McHale Assails Attack on His Record
Rep. Paul McHale, the only Democrat on Capitol Hill to call for President Clinton to resign, said it was "reprehensible" for a presidential ally to leak false charges about McHale's military decorations.

From Style:

Essay: Monica, the American Princess
It's as if America got jealous watching England create Diana.

From Wednesday, August 26

Gephardt Says Clinton Could Be Impeached
House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, repeating his criticism of President Clinton for his behavior in the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal, refused to rule out the possibility of impeachment if the facts warrant such action.

Key Democrat Urges Clinton to Be Candid
Democratic National Chairman Roy Romer thinks that blind loyalty may lack credibility in the current environment.

Donors to Clinton Defense Fund Unbowed
Donors to the new Clinton legal defense fund believe in him, think he was unfairly accused, and opened their wallets.

From Style:

Media Calls for Resignation Grow Louder
More columnists and editorial writers are calling for President Clinton's resignation.

Online Extra:

• Clinton Legal Expense Fund Donor Database

From Tuesday, August 25

Democrats Echo Gingrich on Impeachment
Democrats voiced agreement with the suggestion of House Speaker Newt Gingrich that it might not be "a smart idea" to rush into any impeachment inquiry against President Clinton.

From Style:

In Hollywood, He's Still Their Bill
Hollywood power brokers are among President Clinton's most stalwart supporters.

From Monday, August 24

Gingrich Raises the Bar for Impeachment
House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that he believed only "a pattern of felonies" and not "a single human mistake" could constitute grounds for an impeachment inquiry.

Clinton Defense Begins to Take Shape
The bottom line, according to some advisers, is this: Yes, he deceived, obfuscated and evaded. No, he was not forthcoming or fully truthful. But technically, they maintain, he did not lie. And even if he did, it should not matter legally because it was an irrelevant line of questioning in an illegitimate lawsuit eventually thrown out of court.

A Sermon About the National Obsession
The chief priest at Washington National Cathedral challenged Presiden Clinton's decision to treat his relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky as a private matter.

From Style:

Media Notes: Spun to a Crisp
A primer on the spin.

From Sunday, August 23

American Voters See Two Very Different Bill Clintons
Americans continue to see President Clinton as a strong leader in touch with their problems even as a growing majority express doubts about his honesty, integrity and moral character, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News survey.

White House to Court Democrats on Hill
As President Clinton struggles to save his embattled presidency, aides recognize that his fate increasingly depends on elected officials, particularly the congressional Democrats he has traditionally neglected.

Congress May Decide It Should Censure Clinton
Faced with the quandary of how to pass judgment on President Clinton's personal conduct, some lawmakers have renewed the call for a resolution condemning the president's relationship with former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky.

From Sunday Arts:

Can a Lewinsky Sitcom Be Far Behind?
Some ideas for fall programming.

From Outlook:

Apologies: What It Means to Say 'Sorry'
A linguistics professor writes that Clinton did apologize – and that most Americans, who would rather have a strong president than a weak one, are satisfied.

Lies: They Come With Consequences
An authority on lying writes that the stage is now set for what could turn into a more focused national debate about lying by public officials.

From Saturday, August 22

President Testified to Late Gifts to Lewinsky
President Clinton testified that he gave Monica S. Lewinsky several gifts during a weekend meeting at the White House shortly after Christmas, the last time they were together before their secret affair triggered a criminal investigation, sources familiar with his account said.

Gore Has Tough Balancing Act
With the exception of President Clinton himself, no politician in America has a greater stake in the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation than Vice President Gore.

Key Constituency Reverses Itself
A critical constituency for President Clinton – liberal women's groups and Democratic women on Capitol Hill – is in an awkward position, struggling to condemn the president's behavior without condemning the man.

Hatch Is Presidential Critic, Backer in Tumultuous Week
Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) has been one of the week's most visible talking heads, first as a Clinton critic on Lewinsky, then as the president's cheerleader after the bombing raids.

Whitewater Tampering Probe Begins
Investigators working for independent counsel Kenneth Starr have begun probing allegations that the prosecutor's top Whitewater witness received payments from conservative activists.

From Style:

Establishment Disliked Clinton From Start
In the so-called "Salons of Georgetown," the Washington Establishment has pronounced its verdict on the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Timing of Talks on Affair's Secrecy at Issue
Monica Lewinsky amplified her account of an extramarital affair with President Clinton, while sources said Clinton testified earlier this week that he and Lewinsky discussed how to keep their affair secret – but long before she was subpoenaed.

Strikes Planned in Midst of Scandal
Even as President Clinton was preparing to acknowledge a difficult truth about one secret in his private life, he was harboring another secret dealing with the most difficult responsibility of any president's public life – when to use military force against an enemy.

Most Critics Support Military Response
President Clinton won warm support for ordering anti-terrorist bombing attacks from many but not all of the lawmakers who have criticized him harshly as a leader critically weakened by the Monica S. Lewinsky scandal.

From Style:

Cinema & Cynicism, Again
From street corners to television studios to the Pentagon briefing room, the reaction was the same: Maybe a neat little bombing was President Clinton's way of changing the subject. This was, after all, the premise of "Wag the Dog."

From Thursday, August 20

Lewinsky, Clinton Testimony in Conflict
Monica S. Lewinsky has contradicted President Clinton's grand jury testimony about the nature of their sexual relationship and her return of presidential gifts that had been subpoenaed in the Paula Jones lawsuit.

Strategy: Clinton Camp Splintered
President Clinton's senior aides and informal political advisers are weighing options for counteracting the intense backlash his Monday night address to the nation caused in Washington.

Congress: Democrats See Speech as Failure
President Clinton's speech is increasingly seen by Democrats as a political failure that has unleashed a torrent of anger among some of the president's most loyal supporters.

More Stories:

• Politics: Ad in N.C. Focuses on Lewinsky
• On Vacation: First Family Finds Privacy
• Starr: Prosecutor Wins Unrelated Legal Case


From Style:

• The Tie That Binds
• From 'Reliable Source': Chelsea the Go-Between?

From Wednesday, August 19

Lewinsky Summoned to Testify on Clinton Story
Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr is showing little sign of backing off his investigation of the president, despite Clinton’s admission under oath Monday and in a dramatic televised address that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

The Voters: Supporting a Tarnished President
Americans expressed willingness to overlook or at least shunt aside President Clinton's personal failings and keep him in office for the remainder of what they now see as a tarnished and diminished presidency.

The First Lady: Committed to Her Marriage
Hillary Rodham Clinton "is committed to her marriage" and "believes in this president and loves him very much," her press secretary, Marsha Berry, said.

More Stories:

• The Speech: Advisers Wrangled Over Wording
• Religion: Two Clergyman Emerge as Defenders
• Lawmakers: Critics Cautious in Wake of Speech
• The Vacation: Vineyard Welcomes President
• World Reaction: Mixture of Sympathy, Disgust


From Style:

• The Media: Greek Chorus Changes Its Tune
• The Apology: Did Clinton Repent?
• The Wife's Role: Dealing With Adultery
• Humor: Clinton's Speech, in Plain English

From Tuesday, August 18

Clinton Admits Inappropriate Intimacy
President Clinton acknowledged that he had an inappropriate relationship with onetime intern Monica S. Lewinsky and deceived the American people about it, but he defiantly challenged independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr to stop "prying into private lives."

Analysis: Baring the Soul, Daring the Prosecutor
This was no mea culpa speech. It was a Clinton the country has seen before when he faced a political crisis, a Clinton as defiant as he was contrite.

• Full Text: Clinton's Speech

More Stories:

• At the White House: Long Siege Ends
• On the Hill: GOP Says Scandal's Not Over
• On the Street: Defenders and Doubters
• Tactics: Clinton Takes a Gamble With Speech
• The Scene: After a Joyless Wait, the Speech
• The Jury: Just Props in This Drama?
• GOP Senator Clears Richardson
• Ex-French Minister Seeks Support for Clinton
• Protester Cuts Himself Outside the White House


From Style:

• Defenders Hung Out to Dry?
• Tom Shales: Our Nightmare Is Not Over
• After Speech, Instant Spin


Online Extra:

• Washingtonpost.com Readers' Responses to Clinton's Speech

From Monday, August 17

President Faces Historic Test
After a seven-month criminal investigation of the president's conduct in the Jones case, his unprecedented 1 p.m. appointment with independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr and the grand jury watching through a closed-circuit hookup will be a defining moment for his presidency.

Day Could Narrow Credibility Gap
The fateful appearance President Clinton will make before prosecutors in the White House will bring him back to a familiar place. The place is a rhetorical gray zone, where language is malleable and meaning is opaque.

Jones Deposition to Be Revisited
Seven months to the day after his testimony in the Paula Jones case, the president will be asked about the relationship under oath again and the story he tells may sound strikingly different.

Closed-Circuit Link to Jury a Novelty
Even for a place used to recording testimony about big events, closed-circuit testimony is a first.

Sites for Clinton-Lewinsky News
There are plenty of places to go on the Web for news reports and special features about the Lewinsky investigation.

From Style:

Media Notes: On White House Whispers
Unnamed presidential advisers are using the press to signal that President Clinton may acknowledge an intimate relationship with the former intern.

Nicole Seligman, Clinton's Least-Known Lawyer
Nicole Seligman, 41, is the least-known member of Clinton's triumvirate of defense lawyers, a quiet presence at the side of her partner, David E. Kendall.

Lying in Bed
People lie about sex. And, of course, they cheat.

Online Extras:

• Clinton Begins Historic Grand Jury Testimony
• Text of Morning White House Briefing

From Sunday, August 16

President's Lawyers Brace For Change in His Story
President Clinton’s lawyers believe he will testify Monday that he engaged in sexual activity with Monica S. Lewinsky, according to a person who has spoken with the president and his legal team. But as of Friday, the source said, Clinton had not explained his behavior to his wife or daughter.

As Both Sides Prepare, Clinton Withdraws
As President Clinton prepares for his testimony, his lawyers complain that they have not gotten enough of his time.

Public Still Giving Probe Cold Shoulder, Polls Show
The American people have delivered a clear message: Get this mess behind us.

Essay: For Clinton, It Seems Like a Familiar Cycle
There is a peculiar symmetry to the Clinton story: His capacity to create crises for himself is matched only by his ability to survive them.

From Style:

Satire: A Bill of Goods
"Talking points" prepared by The Post's Joel Achenbach for the exclusive use of the president.

From Outlook:

Tomorrow Shouldn't Happen
Sooner or later, under the Constitution, the fate of the president must be a political question, not a legal one. Why not sooner?

From Saturday, August 15

Clinton Considering Lewinsky Statement
As President Clinton continued to meet with his lawyers, speculation grew that he may alter the description of his relationship with former intern Monica Lewinsky – and that he intends to make a public statement after he concludes his testimony.

Experts Scoff at Perjury Loophole for Clinton
Although advisers to President Clinton believe there are legal loopholes in his Paula Jones deposition, legal experts scoff at the notion.

From Style:

Reflections of a Woman
As President Clinton's troubles have escalated, Hillary Clinton seems to have risen above it all in the eyes of many American women.

From Style: Time.com Pulls Clinton 'Scoop'
A "TIME Exclusive" reported that President Clinton had requested air time for a post-testimony address. An hour later, the "scoop" vanished from cyberspace.

Some Advisers Counsel a Narrow Admission
Some of President Clinton's advisers are recommending that he admit to a limited physical relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky, but refuse to answer questions that delve further into his sex life and deny encouraging her to lie.

At Ceremony, Grief Overtakes Weary Clinton
The president's pained, weary visage suggested that the combined demands of both his official duties and his personal travails may have tapped out his emotional reserves.

From Style:

A Bad Sex Scandal
A good sex scandal is romantic, titillating or – at the very least – sexy.

From Thursday, August 13

Aides: No Plans to Limit Clinton Testimony
The White House tried to stamp out speculation that President Clinton might not answer certain questions about Monica S. Lewinsky during his grand jury testimony.

From Wednesday, August 12

Report Expected to Focus on Lewinsky
Independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr could send his long-awaited report to Congress within weeks of President Clinton's grand jury testimony.

Secret Service Officers' Stories Are Different
Two Secret Service officers have offered differing accounts of a purported visit to President Clinton's office by Monica S. Lewinsky.

First Lady Cites Arkansas-Bashing
In a telephone interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton blamed her husband's legal difficulties on anti-Arkansas bias.

Lost Amid Scandal: A Workforce Bill
If a bill becomes law in the midst of a presidential sex scandal, does anyone hear?

From Monday, August 10

Friends See Mother's Style in Clinton
Acting like a man with no more than the usual cares, President Clinton is sprinting through a busy cross-country political itinerary.

Hollywood Producer Summoned
Presidential friend and Hollywood producer Harry Thomason has been called before the independent counsel's grand jury.

From Sunday, August 9

Analysis: Confession Is Fraught With Risks
Talking heads of every partisan stripe have all but written the script for a presidential confession in the Monica Lewinsky investigation. But the "mea culpa" scenario is fraught with enormous risks.

From Saturday, August 8

Judge Orders Probe of Starr Team Over Leaks
A federal judge has ruled that "serious and repetitive" leaks to the news media in the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation justify an inquiry into whether prosecutors are responsible and she accused independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr of once violating secrecy rules.

From Style:

An Acceptance of Leaks as Norm
Once upon a time, grand jury witnesses did their thing in secret. Now their accounts are leaked before, during and after they testify.

Online Extras:

• Judge's Finding of Evidence of Leaks by Starr's Office
• Appeals Court Ruling on Leak Investigation
• White House Account of Alleged Leaks

From Friday, August 7

Lewinsky Testifies to Grand Jury
Monica Lewinsky told a federal grand jury that she engaged in numerous sexual liaisons with President Clinton at the White House.

The Scene: Punctuated Calm
The courthouse plaza now known as Monica Beach was a kaleidoscope of multicolored lawn chairs, sunhatted tourists and twittering cell phones with a CNN cameraman above it all in a cherry-picker.

Analysis: Obstruction Case Tough to Prove
Proving criminal obstruction hinges on nuance, context and – in President Clinton's case – details that are not yet publicly known.

Rutherford Institute in Financial Trouble
The Virginia-based law center representing Paula Jones is facing the prospect of a severe budget shortfall.

Online Extra:

• Photo Gallery: Media Feeding Frenzy

From Thursday, August 6

Clinton Revives Executive Privilege Claim
President Clinton has moved to block White House lawyers from having to answer certain questions in the Monica S. Lewinsky investigation by reviving an executive privilege claim.

A New Chapter for Lewinsky
Monica Lewinsky's testimony may mark the beginning of the end of her life of surreal seclusion.

They Didn't Ask, He Didn't Tell
Greeted with warm applause and affection, President Clinton joined House Democrats yesterday for an old-fashioned political schmooze.

From Wednesday, August 5

Clinton Lawyer Cites Privilege
A top White House lawyer went before the grand jury investigating President Clinton's ties to Monica S. Lewinsky but refused to answer certain questions, prompting another round of legal jousting with independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr.

A Cautious Reunion Awaits Clinton on Hill
The stage is set for a guarded reunion between a president and lawmakers of his own party who for years have viewed each other with a wavering combination of mutual mistrust and mutual need.

High Court Intervention Was Unlikely
Despite the drama of an eleventh-hour appeal, the nation's high court grant will rarely grant an emergency "stay,"

Media: When News Includes the Lewd
For journalists sorting through the dirty laundry of the Monica Lewinsky melodrama, the cringe factor is getting worse.

Online Extra:

Transcript: The Post's Susan Schmidt on Levey Live

From Tuesday, August 4

White House Fights New Starr Subpoena
The White House rushed an emergency plea to the Supreme Court in a last-minute bid to stop independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr from bringing White House special counsel Lanny A. Breuer before the grand jury this morning.

From Political Washington, a Call for Confession
Political Washington already has arrived at a striking degree of consensus on what President Clinton should do: Come clean to the public and hope for the best.

From Monday, August 3

Hatch Says Clinton's Best Course Is Truth
Several political figures have recently said Clinton's best hope of saving his presidency, if he has lied about his relationship with Lewinsky, would be a public "mea culpa."

From Sunday, August 2

The Story So Far, Week 28: Prosecutor, President Face Off
In the court of public opinion, the battle between Kenneth Starr and Bill Clinton has been a mismatch in Clinton's favor. But in the court of law, Starr last week appeared to put Clinton on the defensive in a way he hasn't been since the first days of the Monica Lewinsky investigation.

From Saturday, August 1

Clinton Pledges to Testify 'Truthfully'
President Clinton pledged to testify "completely and truthfully" about his relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky.

Dress May Yield Strong Evidence
The FBI lab should be able to gauge with virtual certainty whether even a tiny sample of any genetic material on the dress can be traced to President Clinton.

Tripp Not Done With Grand Jury Probes
Linda Tripp is under investigation herself by a Maryland grand jury looking into the legality of secretly recorded calls Tripp made of Monica S. Lewinsky talking about an alleged affair with the president.