WASHINGTON — In a grudging public admission after seven months of denial, President Clinton told the American people Monday night that he had a relationship with Monica S. Lewinsky that was "not appropriate, in fact, it was wrong."
In a televised address that followed an historic day of testimony to a grand jury, Clinton also acknowledged lying to the public about his "private" conduct but steadfastly insisted that he had not asked anyone to lie or otherwise break the law.
"I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that," Clinton said smoothly and without flinching. "I intend to reclaim my family life for my family."
While he took "complete responsibility" for his actions, Clinton--speaking from the same White House Map Room where only hours before he had been grilled by prosecutors--also used the occasion to defiantly challenge the propriety of the investigation by independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr.
"It's nobody's business but ours," Clinton said. "Even presidents have private lives. It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives."
Using an assertive tone that conveyed a command from the nation's chief executive and not a request from a penitent politician, Clinton directed the country and Starr to "turn away from the spectacle of the last seven months."
But he did not try to hide the gravity of the moment. Monday's testimony marked a low point in Clinton's presidency. For months, his domestic and foreign policy initiatives have been overshadowed by the spectacle of a chief executive caught in a soap opera with the world watching.
The full impact of the episode remains in the hands of Congress and the American people. But Clinton's second term already has been marred, his legacy tainted, analysts and Clinton allies agreed.
Much of the fallout will depend on public opinion and Congress' assessment of how outraged the American people are about their president lying to them.
And Clinton's speech told the American people what public opinion polls said they wanted to hear--an acceptance of responsibility but no details of the relationship with the young woman who has gone from obscurity to international renown without ever voicing a word in public.
"In a case like this, less is more and the America people have been consistent about that," said Rahm Emanuel, the president's senior advisor for strategy and policy.
