Picking up from yesterday –
I wish everything had played out differently for Monica Lewinsky, but I hope her life has ultimately worked out to be pretty good, even if it could’ve been something totally different.
ALSO! Did we all know that Bill Clinton line of “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” was made at the end of a random speech!
I was never “cool” with him lying. And I thought it was weird to lie so emphatically. But I used to try to empathize and think “well, it must’ve been so stressful being under so much questioning. Maybe anyone could’ve cracked and told a lie eventually with all these people constantly asking questions in your face.” But he just said it off the cuff, talking about something completely unrelated (not cornered during a question-time or anything). What are you doing, Bill Clinton?!
It’s also just so weird to me that any time I’ve heard this story referred to in pop culture, it mainly revolves around an “affair.” But like, that’s the least egregious part about all of it? I mean, my goodness, gracious.
I hardly even know what to say.
And what a weird life for Hillary Rodham Clinton too, where it’s like, I’m sure you don’t want to see Monica Lewinsky all the time, but now she’s famous too. And you can’t really hope that she’s ostracized or anything, because she was the wronged party. But also you were pretty wronged yourself. So, you both are just living with the consequences of this man’s decisions for like the rest of your life, trying to navigate running in some of the same circles (and he was the only one who got to be President). I dunno. It sounds exhausting.
But the podcast is really amazing. I can’t wait to finish the story, and then listen to season 1 (Watergate).