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 | | | Clinton and the Character Question
Good morning and welcome to a special edition of Levey Live. I'm your host, Washington Post columnist Bob Levey. Levey Live normally appears each Tuesday, from noon until 1 p.m. Eastern time. It's a chance for you to discuss major news stories and issues from Washington and elsewhere. Today, from 10 to 11 a.m. Eastern time, we offer an additional installment of Levey Live, devoted to the explosive story of President Clinton and former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Our guest today is Washington Post staff writer David Maraniss. He covers national news and received the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for articles about the life and political record of then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton. Maraniss later expanded those articles into a book, "First in His Class," which was described as "the first-ever full-scale biography of a sitting president." Maraniss wrote an extensive article in yesterday's Washington Post about Clinton and the Lewinsky scandal. Your questions and comments for David Maraniss are welcome now and throughout the program. We expect an unusually heavy volume today, so please file your submissions early.
Grand Rapids, Mich.:
As a psychology/social work student I am fascinated with Mr. Clinton's
psychological profile. He appears to have a lot of the characteristics of an
Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA). Specifically, he is in denial and is compulsive in his work. He also craves approval and attention. Does his obsession with sex seem to be a personality disorder? Has anyone ever suggested that he be in treatment for this or to even deal with his dysfunctional upbringing? My assessment of him is that he is experiencing a midlife crisis and depression related to facing the end of his term as president and the empty nest syndrome. He is still young but has lost his way. Where does one go after being president at such a
young age? In other words, how do you top this? I somehow feel that he may have subconsciously manipulated this crisis because of the prospects of a bleak, boring future. David Maraniss: Bill Clinton has never undergone therapy for
addiction, but in the mid 1980s he did partake in family therapy with his
brother, mother and wife after his brother Roger was convicted of drug dealing and acknowledged he was addicted to cocaine. After that family therapy, Clinton told several of his friends that he believed everyone was addicted to something. One of the patterns of his life is that he tends to fall into periods of personal disarray immediately after finishing a mission, like an election. Fairfax, Va.: For six years we've had pretty good hints that Clinton is a womanizer.
Why do you think this has taken hold? Is it because while Flowers
was considered a tramp and Jones was considered trailer-park trash,
Lewinsky is a young, upper-middle class innocent? David Maraniss: The reason the Lewinsky allegations have caused such explosive media attention, of a magnitude greater than Flowers and Jones, [doesn't] seem to have much to do with class. The main reaons, in my opinion, are these:
Bethesda, Md.:
What do you think accounts for why so many women seem to be so staunchly --
and blindly? -- supporting Clinton? My wife, a psychotherapist, suggests there is an Elvis syndrome happening here: Secretly, these women fantasize Clinton as their lover, and do not want to believe he could be anything but wonderful. She believes this is just as likely with extreme feminists as it is with the average housewife. What's your opinion of that idea? David Maraniss: The Elvis syndrome seems a little glib in this case. While Clinton has always been more popular with women than men, I think this has to do with his empathetic nature more than his looks or any fantasies women might have about him. Also, he tends to support issues that are important to a majority of women, no matter what his personal behavior. Alexandria, Va.:
Those of us involved in 12-step programs are familiar with the behavior you
describe in your feature story. These behaviors are certainly common to
alcoholics and adult children of alcoholics whether those adults are also
addicted to alcohol or not. If he wanted to preserve some modicum of dignity, perhaps Clinton could admit to an "addiction" and seek help. Maybe some good could be wrought out of what threatens to be a a great tragedy for the country and the man and his family. What do you think? David Maraniss: Therapy probably would have been more beneficial for him and the country if it had taken place before he became president. Germantown, Md.:
I very much appreciated David Maraniss's "In Clinton, a Past That's Ever
Prologue," in [Sunday's] Post. It helped answer for me why Clinton continues to threaten his professional life with his very questionable personal behavior. But what I don't understand is this: Why does Hillary Clinton persist in "standing by her man," as Tammy Wynette would put it? What is in Hillary Clinton's background that makes her not only a perpetual cuckold, but makes her defend him -- very, very publicly? Frankly, her behavior is almost more puzzling to me than his is. Thanks. David Maraniss: From my reporting for my book on Clinton, "First In His Class," it became apparent to me that Hillary knew pretty much what she was getting into even before she married Bill Clinton. She decided then, and has reaffirmed that decision many times, that the political and policy goals they shared, and their mutual dream of running the country, were more important than any personal trauma that might result from their marriage. She has made that decision so many times that it seems unlikely that would change now. Bob Levey: Over the weekend, many articles in The Post (and elsewhere) suggested that the American people were willing to vote for Clinton and forgive any past
womanizing, as long as Clinton understood that he shouldn't engage in any
while in the White House. Does this explain why the American people seem so
upset by the Lewinsky story? David Maraniss: It still seems a little early to say precisely how
upset the American public is over this. The first polls indicated an enormous drop, but then, two days later, the drop in popularity seemed much less. It might have been an overreaction at first caused by the shock of the
allegations and the extraordinary coverage. But it does seem that the fact
that Lewinsky was so young, and an employee at the White House, has been a
factor in the public reaction that this was more than just Clinton as
usual. Moneta, Va.:
Will Clinton's reliance on denial and compartmentalization allow him to admit to a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky? David Maraniss: The pattern of Clinton's life is that he has a
capacity to block things out and at times deny reality. In this case he is
also facing something he has never faced before: the realization that anything he says can be compared to the deposition he gave in the Paula Jones case. Charlotte, N.C.:
Clinton and his staff have an obviously friendly rapport with the White House press corps. In your opinion, how has this affected the coverage of the Lewinsky affair since it broke? David Maraniss: I disagree with the premise. From everything I have seen, the relationship between Clinton, his staff, and the press corps is no different from what it was with previous presidents from Bush to Reagan and Carter. The frustrations members of the press have felt over the last five years getting direct and prompt answers from the White House have in fact made it tenser in some ways than what it was under Bush. McLean, Va.:
You wrote a wonderful article entitled "Past is Prologue" in this Sunday's
Post. I can't help wondering whether much of this information hasn't been
known to the press corps for the last six years. Why haven't we been told
about it before now, specifically before the last election? David Maraniss: All of the information in my article was in my book, "First In His Class," plus much more. It is out in paperback. Bob Levey:
Why do you think Clinton hasn't made a further public statement about the
scandal? Do you think he will before the State of the Union speech Tuesday?
David Maraniss: There was some talk that the president would make a statement on the Lewinsky allegations today, at a public appearance for
something else. But apparently he will not. I think he is going to rope a dope here for a while. Newton, Mass.:
Do you believe, on some level, Clinton wanted to get caught? David Maraniss: Not really. I think, as I wrote in the article, that he has developed a sense of invincibility. Owosso, Mich.:
The latest USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll indicates that Clinton's approval rating has not moved substantially. Is it possible that those in the media that are
predicting a resignation are not tuned into the fact that the public just
might not care about Clinton's sex life and considers his denial a somewhat
utilitarian answer to a personal question? David Maraniss: That is possible. Perhaps both the press and the
public overreacted a bit when the scandal first broke. The public's response
to whether he had a relationship with Lewinsky is far different, however, from how the public feels about the question of whether he asked her to lie about it. And judging from the number of questions we are getting here today, 253 to this point, there is intense public interest. Washington, D.C.:
To: Mr. David Maraniss. Many Americans have become addicted to gossip (as well as the other things
which Bill Clinton referred to during his brother's problems). What problems
do you think are created in the society because of gossip-addiction? David Maraniss: Gossip is as old as the human species. The only
difference is the multitude of ways it can spread now, and how quickly. New York City, N.Y.:
The media [are] talking about the sexual act of the president but nobody is
talking of the motives of the ladies and people behind this entire episode of recording the conversation of the White House intern. The president is a young man with so much responsibility. Is this a conspiracy to defame him by his detractors? David Maraniss: From my study of Clinton's life and career, there
have always been, to some extent, people out to get him. And he has also, to
varying degrees, given his adversaries ammunition. The two are not mutually
exclusive. Bob Levey:
It's easy to speculate that Bill Clinton loved being adored by a 21-year-old
staff member. But why would he have elevated that to a sexual relationship?
Why not just be grateful for smiles - and votes? David Maraniss: Bill Clinton has always had trouble getting enough
of anything. The two most common words in his vocabulary, according to his
aides, are 'what else. what else. what else.' Harrisburg, Pa.:
If anything, President Clinton is a novice in White House sexual antics to the late President John F. Kennedy. Either Kennedy did a better job of keeping it
quiet or we are experiencing an incredible increase in salacious yellow
journalism today. What do you think? David Maraniss: It is very true that Clinton seems no different in
his personal behavior than many other powerful and ambitious men, including
former presidents. Not just JFK. Lyndon Johnson, when he would hear stories
about Kennedy's womanizing, would bang his fist on the table and declare, I've had more women by accident than Kennedy had by design. Lake Elmo, Minn.:
Minnesotans are a very forgiving subculture of the USA. We would suggest that Clinton spell out his entire affair (affairs) to the point where 99 percent of the
population would consider his answers credible, say that Hillary was aware of the situation and that to go beyond that was none of anyone's business. But then he would need to apologize to trying to cover up the situation and to provide special favors for certain consenting adults. Do you think this
stategy would work or do you think the only other alternative is for Congress to throw him out and accept Gore, whom they like less? David Maraniss: The option of confessing all and asking for
redemption is tricky in this case because he is not just dealing with public
opinion but with a special prosecutor. Raleigh, N.C.:
I really enojoyed "First in His Class." My question is, do his handlers and
supporters - Cantor, Carville, etc. - truly believe him or do they actually not know the facts? Surely they must believe he has been unfaithful. Second, don't you think the comparisons to Watergate are ridiculous? Nixon was subverting justice and Clinton, however offensive his behavior, has a sexual restraint problem. David Maraniss: The comparisons with Watergate do, to me, seem
ridiculous. This case has mostly to do with Clinton's personal behavior, the
other had to do with subverting the Constitution. Colesville, Md.:
Don't you think writers such as yourself, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Michael
Beschloss have too much invested in this jerk to be counted on to give us an accurate picture of this guy? Given the new allegations of tampering with the judicial process, are you reviewing your own past dealings with the Clinton spinmeisters for instances in which you may have been used to present a false picture of this man to the American people? David Maraniss: No. That is ridiculous. Clinton has refused to do an interview with me since my book came out. And according to people in the White House, Hillary would not talk with him for several weeks thereafter. It is just that I have been balanced, showing both his great flaws and his great strengths. The truth about Clinton is that he is a complex character. I refuse to stereotype. Toronto, Ontario, Canada:
Why do Clinton approval ratings continue to remain high with women when the
"crimes" against women he is alleged to have committed are of the type
normally associated with an unsensitive, womanizing, arrogant cheat? David Maraniss: That is an excellent question. It is hardest to
answer, perhaps, in the Paula Jones case, which is the only one in which he is accused of imposing his sexual desires on someone who did not want it. And in that case perhaps most women found it unbelievable. Bob Levey:
Half an hour left with Washington Post staff writer David Maraniss. Norcross, Ga.:
Why doesn't the press address the question, "Why does an innocent, truthful
man who has done nothing wrong need a dozen lawyers to help him answer the
charges?" If his answers are truthful and he has done nothing wrong, I don't
see why he would need so much legal help. David Maraniss: The fallacy in that argument is that all Americans
are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Bush and Reagan and other
presidents were forced at times to get personal lawyers as well. It is true
that Clinton has faced more allegations more often than others. Bob Levey:
Can you imagine any set of circumstances under which Bill Clinton - who has
wanted to be president all his life - would ever resign? David Maraniss: Everything in Clinton's history suggests that he
would not quit, resign, unless he absolutely had to. That would come if the
Democratic leaders in Congress came to him and said that if he did not resign, they saw no choice but to impeach him, much as Republican leaders did with Nixon. Little Rock, Ark.:
David: How can you judge his character? How can you presume to do so? Has he not worked hard? Has he not produced? Has he not been a good president? David Maraniss: Clinton has worked hard. He has produced. No one has ever accused me of being part of the moral majority before. What I have tried to do is explain the repetitive patterns of his life and personality that can explain - if he did what he has alleged to have done - why. It is a legitimate question, and I have spent years studying Clinton. I would not presume to do it with anyone without doing detailed reporting. Boise, Idaho:
Mr. Maraniss: Even in your brief essay on Clinton's sexual proclivities, I learn more
details of his sordid behavior. The easy question: Why do people go so far
to protect him? The more difficult question: Why does the American public seem so unwilling to see the error of Clinton's ways? David Maraniss: In terms of his loyal friends and advisers, most of them do not know what he has done in his personal life, one way or another, and in a larger sense have determined that the good in him outweighs the problematic. Washington, D.C.:
I just saw a photo of the Clintons emerging from church, with Mr. Clinton
holding a Bible. Do you think he has any real religious beliefs? How does he square his peculiar definition of adultery with standard Christian teaching? Would he consult ministers on this topic, or stick to his Church- of-What's-Happening-Now approach? Thank you. David Maraniss: From my study of Clinton's life, I think his
religious nature is authentic. He believes in redemption. And, as he told me
once, he needs it. He started going to church, alone, when he was seven years old. He knows scripture. At times, to be sure, it serves as a good photo op for him as well. Atlanta, Ga.:
Doesn't the GOP prefer a weakened Clinton to Gore, who would have the
advantages of running in 2000 as an incumbent? David Maraniss: That seems to be the case and is one reason,
perhaps, that Republicans are keeping relatively quiet. On the other hand, it should be remembered that Ford followed Nixon, and lost in the next
election. New York, N.Y.:
As someone who holds a master's degree in media studies, my questions deals
with the media's coverage of the story. If you are the producer or moderator of ABC News, Meet the Press, etc., at
what point do you draw the line at providing information and scooping the
competition? It seems that ABC News was lacking integrity when it reported,
without any confirmation, the report that both Mr. Clinton and Miss Lewinsky
were caught in a compromising position in an area off of the Oval Office.
David Maraniss: I feel uncomfortable talking in any detail about the way the networks have handled this, aside from noticing quite often that what they present as exclusives, NBC has learned, CBS has learned, etc., they have often learned by reading it in the newspaper. Also, in general, it is easier to say something on the air without the same substantiation as we demand in The Post and other papers. Arlington, Va.:
Clinton is a very busy man. Granted, he doesn't have the responsibilities
like many of us do: laundry, grocery shopping, taking kids to child care,
paying bills. But how does he have time for an affair? And isn't he always
with people or Hillary? I just don't see how he could have that much free
time to call Monica at night and send her gifts. David Maraniss: It does seem a bit difficult to imagine, but in fact there are times when the president is alone, he is not with Hillary all the time, she tends to go to sleep much earlier than he does. He sleeps about four or five hours a night. He finds more time in every day than the normal person. Bob Levey:
Does Clinton's statement of a few minutes ago - a forceful denial of any sexual relationship with Lewinsky - change things in any way? David Maraniss: It might have the effect of stopping pundits from
saying ad nauseum that he has not made strong enough denials and give him a
bit of maneuvering room before the State of the Union address. Greensburg, Pa.:
It truly amazes me that women are willing to give President Clinton a pass on his sexual misdeeds. Why do you think they are so forgiving? If their
husbands were found to be cheating on them, all hell would break loose and
they would "throw the bum out." David Maraniss: Infidelity is a very complicated issue in America.
Studies show that about half of all marriages have had to deal with adultery. There is a wide range of forgiveness. Korat, Thailand:
Why is it that we are not chiding Monica a bit for her indecent (alleged)
behavior? She knew Clinton was married. Do we have a thing in this country now where only one party is at fault, or doesn't it still take two to tango? David Maraniss: There is some truth to your question. The difference is that Clinton is president. Charlottesville, Va.:
If Gore does become president before 2000, won't he be stuck on the same horns of dilemma that sank Ford -- namely, the issue of a presidential pardon for Clinton puts him in a hopelessly no-win situation. David Maraniss: The two cases seem quite different. If Clinton
resigns, he might not need a pardon. Miami, Fla.:
There are many great men in the world, but it takes a special man, besides
being qualified to be president you need to have moral fortitude. Would you
agree that if Mr. Clinton could not control his sexual appetite that he was
not qualified to be president? Also, doesn't a man with this problem leave himself open to be blackmailed by his political enemies? It is then necessary to ask people to lie for political protection. Sound familiar? David Maraniss: The question of whether a president who cannot
control his sexual appetite should not be president is a tough one. It might
mean that most of our presidents should not have been presidents. College Park, Md.:
It seems to me that the speed at which this scandal is rushing by is so great compared with Watergate. I mean, people are already talking about resignation and impeachment. It took two years to get to that point in Watergate. What's your take on this? Is it that much easier for a president to resign, now that one chief executive has done it already? How much of this speedup is due to the proliferation of 24-hour news outlets that didn't exist in the 1970s? David Maraniss: You are absolutely right. The culture has changed
considerably in the days since Watergate. The multitude of news sources,
including the Internet, 24-hour TV, the tabloids - all of it is so different
from the days when [Bob] Woodward and [Carl] Bernstein were banging out their stories on six-ply copy paper in old typewriters. Atlanta, Ga.:
Based on your experience in Washington and exposure to other politicians, is
Clinton the exception to the rule? Or is he representative of a "type" that
gravitates toward politics? David Maraniss: He is not necessarily the exception, but as in all
things, he seems to be a bit excessive. New Haven, Conn.:
President Clinton has just issued a strongly worded denial that he ever had
sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky. Is he digging himself in deeper? David Maraniss: He has already denied it, so the stronger denial is just for public consumption, in response to all the press people saying that his denials were not strong enough. The facts will determine, in the end, what happens to him. Rockville, Md.:
This is a very sad event for the country as a whole. As a country, what do
you think will be the result of our ability to continue a credible foreign
policy with Zippergate? The main news focus?
David Maraniss: It will hinder Clinton somewhat in terms of focusing attention, but probably less than you might think. My study of his life shows that he has a remarkable capacity to block things out, compartmentalize and
deal with a multitude of things at once. That holds true with foreign policy
and the Lewinsky case. Washington, D.C.:
There's all this talk of strategy, of the right way to respond, of using a
"contrition strategy." This is all just spin. Why can't Clinton just tell
the truth? David Maraniss: Clinton has rarely in his career offered totally
straightforward answers to these types of questions, but this time he has had the added difficulty of a special prosecutor watching every word he says. Bob Levey:
That's it for today. Be sure to join us tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m., Eastern time, for the regular edition of Levey Live. Our guest will be Prince George's County Executive Wayne Curry. We expect to offer further special editions of
Levey Live later in the week, as the Clinton-Lewinsky story develops. © Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company |
