The Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal: A Defining Moment in American Politics

In 1998, the United States was gripped by a profound political sex scandal involving then-President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, a 24-year-old White House intern. This tumultuous period captivated the nation, raising significant questions about executive power, personal conduct, and the legal process. The core of the controversy revolved around a sexual relationship that transpired between President Clinton and Ms. Lewinsky from 1995 to 1997, largely within the confines of the White House.

The Relationship and its Initial Denial

The scandal publicly erupted in late January 1998 when President Clinton, during a televised address to the nation, emphatically stated, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky." This highly scrutinized denial came in the context of a sworn affidavit given by Lewinsky in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, where she also denied the relationship. The discrepancy between these public and legal statements and the secretly recorded confessions of Ms. Lewinsky would become a central point of contention.

The Unraveling: Investigations and Impeachment Proceedings

Following the revelations, an intense investigation was launched, spearheaded by Independent Counsel Ken Starr. This inquiry expanded the scope of Starr's existing investigations into President Clinton, which already included the Whitewater real estate controversy, the White House FBI files controversy (Filegate), and the White House travel office controversy (Travelgate). The investigation into the Lewinsky affair ultimately led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against President Clinton. Based on the findings presented in the comprehensive Starr Report, the U.S. House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings against the President in 1998.

• Article I: Perjury before the Grand Jury – Alleging that President Clinton knowingly provided false and misleading testimony to the grand jury regarding his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
• Article II: Perjury in the Paula Jones Deposition – Alleging false testimony under oath in the civil sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Paula Jones.
• Article III: Obstruction of Justice – Alleging efforts to impede the investigation, including encouraging false testimony and concealing evidence.
• Article IV: Abuse of Power – Alleging misuse of presidential authority, which was ultimately rejected by the House.

The House successfully voted to impeach Bill Clinton on two articles: perjury before a grand jury and obstruction of justice, marking him only the second U.S. President in history to be impeached.

The Senate Trial and Acquittal

After the House impeachment, the matter proceeded to a 21-day trial in the U.S. Senate. According to the U.S. Constitution, a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is required for conviction and removal from office. On February 12, 1999, the Senate acquitted President Clinton on both impeachment charges. The vote for perjury was 45 guilty to 55 not guilty, and for obstruction of justice, it was 50 guilty to 50 not guilty. Neither vote reached the necessary 67 votes for conviction, allowing Clinton to complete his second term in office.

Legal Repercussions for President Clinton

While acquitted by the Senate, the scandal still carried significant legal consequences for Bill Clinton. In April 1999, U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright, who presided over the Paula Jones case, held Clinton in civil contempt of court. This ruling was for giving "intentionally false" and "misleading" testimony under oath in the Jones case regarding his relationship with Lewinsky. As a result, Judge Wright fined Clinton $90,000.

Further disciplinary actions ensued:

• His license to practice law in Arkansas, his home state, was suspended for five years by the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct in 2001.
• Shortly thereafter, in October 2001, he was disbarred from presenting cases before the United States Supreme Court, the nation's highest judicial body, a profound and rare professional sanction for a former President.

Key Figures and Their Roles

Monica Lewinsky

A graduate of Lewis & Clark College, Monica Lewinsky was hired in 1995 as an intern in the White House during President Clinton's first term. She later became a paid employee of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. It was during her tenure at the White House that her personal relationship with President Clinton is believed to have begun. Lewinsky later confided details of this relationship to Linda Tripp, a co-worker at the Pentagon (where Lewinsky moved after leaving the White House), who secretly recorded their telephone conversations.

Linda Tripp

Linda Tripp, a civil servant in the Department of Defense, became a pivotal figure when she began secretly recording her phone conversations with Monica Lewinsky. In January 1998, upon discovering that Lewinsky had sworn an affidavit in the Paula Jones case denying a relationship with Clinton, Tripp decided to deliver these explosive tapes to Ken Starr, the Independent Counsel. Her actions ignited the public phase of the scandal.

Ken Starr

Kenneth W. Starr served as the Independent Counsel appointed to investigate President Clinton and his administration. Originally tasked with probing the Whitewater real estate investments, Starr's mandate expanded to include the White House FBI files and travel office controversies. With the delivery of the Tripp tapes, his investigation officially broadened to include the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, culminating in the highly detailed "Starr Report" submitted to Congress, which outlined grounds for impeachment.

The Infamous Grand Jury Testimony

During his grand jury testimony in August 1998, President Clinton's responses regarding the nature of his relationship with Lewinsky were meticulously worded. In a moment that became highly publicized and often satirized, Clinton famously argued, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is," in reference to the truthfulness of his earlier public denial, "there is not a sexual relationship, an improper sexual relationship or any other kind of improper relationship." This statement reflected a legalistic interpretation of "sexual relations" based on earlier court definitions and became emblematic of the contentious legal and moral debates surrounding the scandal.

Naming the Scandal: The "-gate" Phenomenon

The Clinton-Lewinsky scandal acquired several popular nicknames, a common practice for major political controversies in the U.S., particularly since the 1970s. These monikers often adopted the "-gate" suffix, derived from the Watergate scandal, a political scandal in the United States involving President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s. Common names for the Clinton-Lewinsky affair included "Monicagate," "Lewinskygate," "Tailgate," "Sexgate," and "Zippergate." This naming convention highlights the perceived gravity and widespread public attention similar to that of the original Watergate incident.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal

What was the core issue of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal?

The core issue was President Bill Clinton's sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, his subsequent denial of the relationship under oath, and allegations of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Why was Bill Clinton impeached?

Bill Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of perjury before a grand jury and obstruction of justice, stemming from his conduct related to the investigation into his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

Was Bill Clinton removed from office after impeachment?

No, Bill Clinton was acquitted by the U.S. Senate in February 1999 and remained in office to complete his second term. A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is required for conviction and removal, which was not achieved.

Who was Ken Starr in the context of this scandal?

Ken Starr was the Independent Counsel appointed to investigate President Clinton. His investigation expanded to include the Lewinsky affair, and his detailed report led to the impeachment proceedings against Clinton.

What legal consequences did Bill Clinton face besides impeachment?

President Clinton was held in civil contempt of court and fined $90,000 for giving misleading testimony in the Paula Jones case. His law license in Arkansas was suspended for five years, and he was disbarred from practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court.