In 1998 it came to light that during President Bill Clinton's first term he had a sexual relationship with a 22-year-old White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. In 1998, during a televised speech Clinton emphatically denied that he did not have sexual relations with Lewinsky. Further investigation of the scandal led to charges of perjury and the impeachment of President Clinton in 1998 by the House of Representatives.
It all started in 1995 when Monica Lewinsky was hired to work as an intern at the White House and Bill Clinton began a personal relationship with her. The details of the relationship was captured in a confidential, secretly recorded telephone conversation with Linda Tripp a co-worker at the Defense Department. In 1997, author Gary J. Byrne released a book entitled “Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate", where he described everything he observed while working to protect the Clinton family during the first term of Clinton's presidency. Included in this book, were the most lurid details of what was referred to as Bill Clinton's many sexual exploits. According to Byrne, Monica Lewinsky regarded herself as the president's only mistress. and was angry when she showed up in December of 1997 and told to wait while the President finished up with another "appointment". Byrne reported that it was clear to all, including Lewinskey that Bill Clinton was “screwing with Eleanor in the Oval Office.”
All of this came to light after Bill Clinton's reelection in 1996. In that year, turnout was only 49%, the lowest for a presidential election since 1924. In that year, Bill Clinton won easily over the Republican contender Bob Dole with 49% of the votes and 379 electoral college votes. But, initially Bill Clinton's chances of winning were considered slim after his party lost both the House and the Senate in 1994. Clinton's win was attributed greatly to the recovery of the economy from an earlier recession in the 1990's and a relatively stable presence on the world stage.
Now I apologize for taking this quote out of Context. But Bill Clinton was speaking of a different breach. He was speaking of the racism and bigotry that yet existed in America. He was speaking of Americans who viewed diversity as a weakness, not a strength. He was speaking of the bigotry and evidence and intolerance which still existed in America and evidenced by bombings and burned churches. Bill Clinton asked that America " fight against this, in our country and in our hearts".
"America has always been a nation of immigrants. From the start, a steady stream of people in search of freedom and opportunity have left their own lands to make this land their home. We started as an experiment in democracy fueled by Europeans. We have grown into an experiment in democratic diversity fueled by openness and promise.But then he explained how it was Reverend Robert Schuller, an American Christian televangelist who suggested that he read Isaiah 58:12.
My fellow Americans, we must never, ever believe that our diversity is a weakness. It is our greatest strength. Americans speak every language, know every country. People on every continent can look to us and see the reflection of their own great potential, and they always will, as long as we strive to give all of our citizens, whatever their background, an opportunity to achieve their own greatness.
We're not there yet. We still see evidence of abiding bigotry and intolerance in ugly words and awful violence, in burned churches and bombed buildings. We must fight against this, in our country and in our hearts."
"Just a few days before my second Inauguration, one of our country's best known pastors, Reverend Robert Schuller, suggested that I read Isaiah 58:12. Here's what it says: 'Thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.' I placed my hand on that verse when I took the oath of office, on behalf of all Americans, for no matter what our differences in our faiths, our backgrounds, our politics, we must all be repairers of the breach."
In 1997, nobody thought twice about these words, but looking back one must wonder if the Reverend wasn't asking the President to look at himself and his own presidency. While there is no evidence that Reverend Schuller knew of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and others such as Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers, but they had been in the tabloids. Perhaps, Reverend Schuller was speaking of racism and bigotry in America, but it is also worth considering that he may have been speaking about President Clinton himself. Suggesting to the President to repair the breach and restore the honor of the office. Unfortunately, this is something the President did not take to heart, at least not immediately.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=53358
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewinsky_scandal
http://eaglerising.com/34460/new-book-reveals-tension-filled-bill-clinton-monica-lewinsky-eleanor-mondale-love-triangle/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Schuller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1996
http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/gty_lewinsky_clinton_hillary_jc_140506_7x5_1600.jpg
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