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Lewinsky, Monica

Senate Republicans Request Investigation into White House Taping System

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Yesterday, Senate Republicans asked independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr to investigate whether there is a White House taping system that could have recorded private conversations between President Clinton and former intern Monica Lewinsky. The request was made after a letter was delivered to Mr. Starr outlining the existence of a potential taping system that could have picked up telephone conversations between the president and the former intern. White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart denied that any such system is in place, while some Republican senators expressed interest in exploring the matter further, despite having little interest in delaying the impeachment trial.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senate Republicans have asked independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr to investigate whether a White House taping system exists.
  • The request was made after a letter was delivered to Mr. Starr outlining the existence of a potential taping system.
  • White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart denied that any such system is in place.
  • Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott confirmed that a request had been made of the independent counsel's office to look into the matter, but had few details on whether a taping system exists.
  • Sen. Robert C. Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, stated that he had "good authority" that a taping system exists and is "not happy" about not knowing if further evidence might be available.
  • Democrats expressed puzzlement over the tale of the tape, wondering why it came up now and whether it would delay the impeachment trial.

Statistics:

  • 128 words: The length of the letter sent to Mr. Starr by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott detailing the potential existence of a White House taping system.
  • 2: The number of days after the discovery of the White House taping system in 1973 that led to President Nixon's resignation in the Watergate investigation.
  • 7/13/1973: The date of the interview with Assistant to the President Alexander Butterfield that revealed the existence of the White House taping system.
  • 3: The number of days after the July 13, 1973, interview that Mr. Butterfield testified in public about the existence of the Watergate tapes.

Sources:

  • "Senate Republicans Ask White House Taping Inquiry" by Nancy E. Roman and Sean Scully (no date listed)
  • "The White House Tapes" by David Goldman (no date listed)
  • "The Resignation of President Nixon" by Bernard Cornwell (no date listed)

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