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Historian Sheds Gossipy Light on Clinton Years
In new book, ex-prez discusses Lewinsky, Yeltsin's drunken caper
By Nick McMaster
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Posted Sep 21, 09 1:07 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Between 1993 and 2001, historian Taylor Branch met regularly with then-President Clinton for a series of taped interviews. The transcripts form the basis of a new book, The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President, to be released next week. USA Today got a look and singles out some highlights:
- Secret Service agents had to corral a drunk Boris Yeltsin trying to hail a cab on Pennsylvania Avenue—wearing only his underwear. The Russian leader, who was bunking at Blair House, told them he wanted a pizza.
- Discussing the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Clinton told Branch he "just cracked" under the pressures of the Whitewater investigation and the Democrats' congressional losses in 1994.
- After Al Gore lost the 2000 election, the two "exploded" at one another in a heated conversation. Clinton accused Gore of underutilizing him on the campaign; Gore said the Lewinsky scandal had ruined his chances.
- George W. Bush "was unqualified to be president … but he had shrewd campaign instincts," Clinton told Branch, John McCain "might make a good president, but he had no idea how to run."