Death of American Virtue - Ken Gormley [523]
His lawyers’ strategy was: Although in theory a “material misstatement” under oath could still be established, most judges would consider it imprudent to make such a finding if the case itself had settled.
Paula and Steve Jones were separating: Wesley Holmes, interview by author.
Each side would later claim: The Jones team had contact with certain court personnel who hinted that Judge Wright’s opinion was about to be overturned (Wesley Holmes, interview by author). Bob Bennett, on the other hand, ran into an unidentified law clerk who intimated that the Eighth Circuit was prepared to rule two to one in the president’s favor (Robert Bennett, interview by author).
Judge Wright was famous for: Judge Wright had essentially assumed the truth of the conduct alleged by Paula Jones, but found that it did not meet the legal standard for a sexual harassment claim. The Eighth Circuit had upheld other summary judgment findings in discrimination cases of a similar ilk.
Wes Holmes, told Paula bluntly: Wesley Holmes, interview by author.
“It was time for it to be over with”: Paula Jones, interview by author.
“Paula, if it was me”: Susan Carpenter McMillan, interview by author. Carpenter-McMillan, although displeased with the decision, still volunteered to help out her “younger baby sister” Paula by enlisting her own husband, Bill, a successful personal injury lawyer (from whom she would soon divorce), to haggle out a deal with Bob Bennett. It was unclear who outfoxed who, but the two Irishmen got together and came up with a settlement number that allowed both sides to declare victory (ibid.).
“hated like hell”: Bill Clinton, interview by author.
Starr also saw this as a chance: Ken Starr, interview by author; Schmidt and Weisskopf, Truth at Any Cost, 263–64.
“I want to raise a point with you”: Janet Reno, interview by author.
visibly “angry”: Robert J. Bittman, interview by author.
Starr himself would later say: Ken Starr, interview by author.
“It’s convenient for them”: Eric Holder, interview by author.
“There Is Substantial and Credible Information”: Memo, Stephen Bates to “All Attorneys,” 15 Nov. 1998, Samuel Dash papers, box 62, Library of Congress (hereinafter cited as Dash papers).
The internal OIC memo: Memo, 15 Oct. 1998, 20, Dash papers. See also Florence Graves and Jacqueline E. Sharkey, “Starr and Willey: The Untold Story,” The Nation, 17 May 1999.
“Dear Mom. Howdy”: Ken Starr to Vannie Starr, 5 Nov. 1998, and Thomas Sowell, “Kenneth Starr’s Real Crime,” Human Events, 6 Nov. 1998, Starr personal papers.
In a letter to daughter Carolyn: Ken Starr to Carolyn Starr, 4 Nov. 1998, and clipping from Houston Chronicle, 4 Nov. 1998, Starr personal papers.
“I have a friend who is going through hell”: Sealy M. Yates to Ken Starr, 5 Oct. 1998, Starr personal papers.
“I thought it was something”: Alice Starr, interview by author.
“The truth is sacred”: Draft comments, marked “not used,” Nov. 1998, Starr personal papers, KWS Outbox, Sept.–Oct. 1998.
Rows of Judiciary Committee members: Nancy Gibbs, “Men of the Year,” photograph, Time, 28 Dec. 1998/4 Jan. 1999, 78–79; “Impeachment Hearings, Opening Remarks of Ranking Democratic Rep. John Conyers,” Federal News Service, 19 Nov. 1998.
This unexpected attack: Statement of Independent Kenneth Starr Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, 19 Nov. 1998, OIC papers.
“I was fat, out of shape”: Sol Wisenberg, interview by author.
“We were really surprised”: Henry J. Hyde, interview by author.
The president’s lawyer squared his shoulders: Gibbs, “Men of the Year,” photograph, 84–85.
Observers in the gallery: “Impeachment Hearings, Clinton Lawyer David Kendall Questions Starr,” Federal News Service, 19 Nov. 1998.
Within minutes, Kendall had forced: Fred Hiatt, “Kendall’s Theatre,” Washington Post, 22 Nov. 1998.
The burly Chicago criminal lawyer: “The Impeachment Hearings, Republican Counsel David Schippers Questions Starr,” Federal News Service, 18 Nov. 1998.
“They were a couple of