Monica Lewinsky Breaks Silence on Clinton Affair in Nationally Televised Interview

Monica Lewinsky, embroiled in the scandal that threatened to bring down a president, took to the national stage in a candid two-hour interview with ABC's Barbara Walters. Speaking to Walters, who employed her signature empathetic interviewing style, Lewinsky presented her account of a 13-month affair with President Clinton, detailing the first encounters and the rapid escalation into an illicit relationship. Despite having discussed sensitive topics, Lewinsky appeared unrepentant and emphasized her feelings of love and loyalty towards the President, stating that she believed Clinton had deep affection for her, even if he never explicitly declared his love.

Key Takeaways:

• Lewinsky stated that she and Clinton had a 13-month affair that escalated rapidly from casual encounters to a full-fledged relationship.
• Lewinsky claimed that Clinton had deep affection for her, though he never explicitly said he loved her, and said that the two had discussed what might happen after Clinton's presidency ends.
• Clinton allegedly told Lewinsky that he might be on his own and available after his presidency, which led Lewinsky to believe that he felt deeply for her.
• During her time at the White House, Lewinsky was involved in an affair with a Pentagon colleague and became pregnant, eventually having an abortion.
• Lewinsky stated that she initially entered the White House as an intern to escape an affair with a former teacher in Oregon.
• Details about how Lewinsky was able to enter the Oval Office undetected by White House staff were revealed during the interview.
• Lewinsky maintained that she only spoke about her feelings and impressions, avoiding sensitive topics that might contradict her grand jury testimony.
• Walters' interview style employed a mix of concern and empathy, aiming to portray Lewinsky as a sympathetic and relatable figure.

Statistics:

• Lewinsky and Clinton's affair spanned 13 months.
• Lewinsky became pregnant and had an abortion during this time.
• Abc charged up to $800,000 for a 30-second commercial during the broadcast, nearly four times the standard rate.
• The commercial slots were sold out, but the network did not reveal the exact prices for all slots.
• A Gallup poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans did not plan to watch the interview.

Sources:

• ABC's "20/20" newsmagazine
• Gallup Poll
• The New York Daily News
• The Associated Press
• Channel 4 (Britain's)
• "Monica's Story" (Lewinsky's biography)