What the Clintons Were Like in Private After the Lewinsky Affair | John Kiriakou
Summary
TLDRThe transcript recounts a memorable meeting between President Clinton and Greek officials, including the Prime Minister and the foreign and defense ministers, where Clinton apologized for the U.S. government's role in the 1967 Greek coup. The narrator, who was 35 at the time, shares anecdotes about the meeting's atmosphere and the public's perception shift towards Clinton. It also includes personal interactions with Clinton and observations of his relationship with Hillary Clinton, reflecting on the aftermath of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the 'Clinton magic' that captivated those present.
Takeaways
- 🗓️ The speaker was 35 years old when they first met President Clinton during a meeting in Greece.
- 🤝 The meeting was a meet and greet with the Greek Prime Minister, foreign minister, defense minister, President Clinton, Secretary of State, National Security adviser, and the Ambassador.
- 🇬🇷 President Clinton's visit to Greece was significant as he was there to apologize for the U.S. government's involvement in overthrowing the Greek government in 1967.
- 🌍 The Greek media initially portrayed President Clinton negatively, calling him 'Planetar' or 'planet ruler', but public opinion changed after his heartfelt apology.
- 📝 The speaker's role in the meeting was as a note-taker, which involved being discreet and attentive to the discussions.
- 🍽️ There was an abundance of food at the meeting, but none of the participants, including the speaker, were offered anything to eat until President Clinton personally offered something to the speaker.
- 😅 A humorous moment occurred when President Clinton mistook the speaker for Greek, leading to a light-hearted exchange about nationality.
- 👥 Hillary Clinton and Chelsea were also present, and there was a noticeable tension between Hillary and President Clinton, possibly related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
- 🎤 President Clinton gave an impassioned speech to the Hellenic American Women's Chamber of Commerce, which was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd.
- 🤔 The speaker reflects on the complex dynamics of the Clinton's relationship and the political implications following the Lewinsky scandal.
- 🧙♂️ The speaker recounts a story about President Clinton's charisma and ability to manipulate a situation to his advantage, as told by a former ambassador.
Q & A
How old was the speaker when they took notes during the meeting with President Clinton in Greece?
-The speaker was 35 years old.
Who were the participants in the meeting with President Clinton in Greece?
-On the Greek side, the participants were the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister. On the American side, the participants were President Clinton, the Secretary of State, the National Security Adviser, and the Ambassador.
What was the purpose of President Clinton's visit to Greece?
-President Clinton visited Greece to apologize for the United States' role in overthrowing the Greek government in 1967.
How did the Greek media refer to President Clinton before his visit?
-The Greek media derisively coined the title 'planet ruler' for President Clinton.
How did the Greek public and media react to President Clinton's visit after his apology?
-The reaction was overwhelmingly positive; they praised him, calling him a kind and good man.
What was the speaker's role during the meeting with President Clinton?
-The speaker's role was to take notes discreetly during the meeting.
What happened when Hillary and Chelsea Clinton arrived at the meeting?
-Hillary Clinton appeared upset, and when President Clinton tried to make small talk about visiting the Parthenon, she responded tersely and walked away.
How did President Clinton react to the interaction with Hillary Clinton at the meeting?
-President Clinton made a joke about leaving and led the speaker to the elevator to leave the area.
What event followed the meeting, and how was President Clinton received there?
-President Clinton attended an event hosted by the Hellenic American Women's Chamber of Commerce, where he gave a rousing speech and was enthusiastically received by the attendees.
How did Clinton's fundraisers react to the Lewinsky scandal, and what was the outcome of their meeting with him?
-The fundraisers initially planned to confront Clinton and urge him to resign, but he emotionally apologized and pleaded for their forgiveness, resulting in them abandoning their plans to demand his resignation.
What did the speaker learn about Clinton's personality from the interaction with his fundraisers?
-The speaker learned that Clinton had a persuasive and charismatic personality, which he used to maintain support even in difficult situations.
How did the speaker feel during the meeting with President Clinton and other officials?
-The speaker felt a sense of disbelief and was concerned about being perceived as an imposter.
Outlines
🤝 Presidential Apology and Cultural Exchange
This paragraph recounts the first meeting of the narrator with President Clinton during a significant diplomatic event in Greece. The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials from both Greece and the United States. The primary purpose of President Clinton's visit was to apologize for the U.S. government's role in overthrowing the Greek government in 1967. The narrator vividly describes the public's initial skepticism towards Clinton, symbolized by the derogatory title 'planetar' or 'planet ruler', reflecting Greek resentment. However, Clinton's heartfelt apology and acknowledgment of Greece's contributions to democracy, culture, and various fields of knowledge led to a dramatic shift in public opinion. The narrator also shares a personal anecdote of being offered food by Clinton, highlighting the President's inclusive and personable nature.
😠 Tensions and the Clinton Charisma
The second paragraph delves into the interpersonal dynamics observed during the meeting, particularly focusing on the strained relationship between President Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The narrator describes a moment of tension between the Clintons, where Hillary's dissatisfaction with the day's events at the Parthenon is palpable. This incident is contextualized within the aftermath of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Hillary's burgeoning political aspirations. The paragraph also includes an account of a meeting where fundraisers intended to convince Clinton to resign but were disarmed by his emotional appeal for forgiveness. The narrator reflects on Clinton's charisma and ability to manipulate situations to his advantage, a trait often referred to as 'Clinton magic'.
🎉 The Power of Persuasion and Public Adoration
In the final paragraph, the narrator discusses the aftermath of the emotional meeting with the fundraisers and how Clinton managed to turn the tide in his favor through his persuasive skills. The story concludes with a scene of Clinton receiving adoration from a crowd of women at a Chamber of Commerce event, illustrating his enduring charm and influence despite personal and political challenges. This anecdote reinforces the idea of 'Clinton magic' and the unique bond he was able to form with his audience, leaving a lasting impression on both the narrator and those present.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Notetaker
💡President Clinton
💡Greece
💡Apology
💡Military Dictatorship
💡Cultural Significance
💡Public Perception
💡Hilary Clinton
💡Monica Lewinsky Scandal
💡Ambassador
💡Charisma
Highlights
The narrator was 35 years old when they first met President Clinton at a meeting in Greece.
The meeting in Greece included the Prime Minister, the foreign minister, and the defense minister of Greece, alongside President Clinton, the Secretary of State, the National Security adviser, and the Ambassador.
President Clinton's visit to Greece was to apologize for the U.S. government's role in overthrowing the Greek government in 1967.
The Greek media had a negative view of President Clinton before his visit, referring to him as 'planetar' or 'planet ruler'.
President Clinton's apology to Greece led to a significant change in public opinion, with the media and people praising him after his visit.
The narrator felt a sense of disbelief being in the room with such high-profile individuals, fearing they might be discovered as a 'fraud'.
President Clinton personally offered the narrator something to eat, mistaking them for Greek, which led to a humorous interaction.
The meeting was described as a 'meet and greet' with no substantive discussion, lasting about 45 minutes.
Hillary Clinton and Chelsea were also present, with Hillary showing signs of tension after a day at the Parthenon.
President Clinton's charisma was evident as he managed to fill silence with humor and stories, avoiding uncomfortable moments.
The narrator witnessed the 'Clinton magic' firsthand, describing his ability to connect with people and influence situations.
A story was shared about fundraisers who intended to confront President Clinton about resigning but were emotionally swayed by his appeal for forgiveness.
The fundraisers' meeting ended with them chanting 'Clinton' in support, illustrating his persuasive abilities.
The narrator reflects on the complex dynamics between Bill and Hillary Clinton, especially in light of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Hillary's political ambitions.
The story highlights the resilience of the Clintons' relationship despite public humiliation and personal ambitions.
The American ambassador to Luxembourg shared an anecdote about the Clinton campaign and the power of emotional appeals in politics.
The narrator's experience at the meeting in Greece was unforgettable, capturing the essence of high-stakes diplomacy and personal interactions.
Transcripts
how old were you when you were um the
notetaker for that meeting with
President Clinton and uh in Greece who
was the meeting with oh in Greece it was
with the Prime Minister the foreign
minister and the defense minister and
then on the American side it was the
president uh the Secretary of State the
National Security adviser and the
Ambassador I was
3 I had just turned
35 35 and that was the first time you
ever met Clinton
or that was the first time I had met
Clinton yeah and how what was that
meeting like what was the purpose of
that meeting it was a a meet and greet
okay uh he didn't come to go to Greece
often did he No in fact the only other
presidents that have been to Greece have
been Eisenhower and HW oh wow yeah um he
specifically came to Greece to apologize
for overthrowing the Greek government in
1967 yeah which which was a major major
deal I'll tell you a funny story I used
to watch the Greek news every night
right to practice my my U spoken Greek
and um for two weeks before Clinton came
uh they derisively coined a a a name for
him a title for him it was planetar it
means the planet ruler so they wouldn't
say opos Clinton President Clinton they
would say Planet he's Clinton the planet
ruler Clinton is going to come here and
grace us with his presence you know that
kind of thing every single night on
every News Channel it's
a and it would piss me off
right then Clinton came and he's like we
love
you you love us this is the birthplace
of democracy we owe our culture to you
we owe philosophy to you and medicine
and Mathematics language we owe
everything to you and I want to
apologize from the bottom of my heart to
the people of Greece for the the illegal
activity of my government in 1967 to
install a military dictatorship here
that you have never gotten over you know
people are still
traumatized as soon as he gets on the
plane to leave right I put the news on
they're like
wow we were wrong about him what a good
man what a kind man oh my God he should
be the president of Greece it was like
it was crazy the
turnaround it was crazy but that meeting
I will never forget that meeting as long
as I live just because I'm standing
there like I can't there have been a
couple of times over the course of my
career where I'm in the room and I'm
looking around like I can't believe I'm
in this room
like surely they're going to figure out
that I'm a fraud right didn't he walk up
to you and he was like talking about the
the or derves or something like that
yeah he offered
me I got there before he did and when
when I first got there the the Prime
Minister arrived with his people and I I
offered the Prime Minister a cup of
coffee a cup of tea whatever he wanted
he said no no no I'm fine I said okay so
I'm standing there because again I'm the
note taker so my job's not to to get
comfy on the couch my job is to St
discreetly with my notebook and take
notes so Clinton comes in and it's all
hugs and kisses on both cheeks and slaps
on the back and he asks the Prime
Minister uh would you like we got
sandwiches we got all it was a table of
food that went like the entire length of
the of the room it was ridiculous $1,000
worth of food on this table he didn't
want anything the foreign minister
didn't want anything the defense
minister didn't want anything and the
Greek notetaker of course wasn't offered
anything
so
then he turns to me I think I've told
you this and he
goes may I offer you something to
eat and I said oh no thank you Mr
President I'm fine and he goes oh are
you with me and I said yes sir I'm with
you he said I'm sorry I thought you were
Greek I said I I kind of am but not
really it's a long story
yeah was Hillary there oh yeah what
happened was we finished the meeting the
meeting went about 45 minutes not a
single substantive word in the whole
thing and Clinton walks out with Burger
who was the National Security adviser
Albright who was the Secretary of of uh
State walks out with the
Ambassador and then I walk out so
they're standing in the hall they're two
little groups and I'm standing against
the wall so I'm about 3 feet away from
Clinton maybe I'm 4et away from Clinton
and then he finishes his conversation
with Burger so Burger walks over to
Albright and the Ambassador so Clinton
is standing like where you are and I'm
standing where I am and at the end of
the hall is the elevator and the
elevator opens and Hillary and Chelsea
get off the
elevator and she's got this this
mug you could just tell like oh this is
going to be bad just the look on her
face like oh she was ready to explode so
she walks right up to
us and it's the four of us
then and one thing that I learned very
quickly about Bill Clinton is that he
absolutely hates
silence something he's so gregarious and
so outgoing like somebody has to fill
the void right with with a joke a story
something yes so he says boy we sure had
a good time at the parthan on this
morning didn't we
Hill silence she just looks at him with
this look like she wanted to kill him so
he repeats himself and he says we sure
had a good time at the Parthenon this
morning didn't we Hill and she says
Jesus Christ Bill it rained all day I'll
be in the room and then she walks
between us and he looks at me and I'm
thinking to myself you poor man you have
to sleep next to that every night so he
looks at me he goes let's get the
out of here and he walks to the elevator
I follow him to the elevator Secret
Service runs down there we go to the
basement there was this rockus crowd of
500 women in the basement it was the
throwing themselves at them pretty much
it was the helenic American Women's
Chamber of Commerce and he gave this
rousing like amazing speech they're
screaming we love you Bill you know that
kind of thing MH I don't know how he did
it wow I don't know how he did it what
what do you think fueled that
relationship the resentment she had
towards him or I don't know if it was
resentment
but this was only this was only a year
after the Monica Lewinsky thing and oh a
year after yeah he had humiliated her
and right right right you know she had
eyes on her own political career by then
she she was weighing a run for the
Senate from New York she didn't need him
anymore right yeah you know it's amazing
they stayed together all this time it's
amazing I was friends with the uh with
the American ambassador to Luxembourg
he's a Greek American who's now the
president of U of uh oh some big
university I can't remember now which
one but anyway he told me the best story
he said that he had
been he had been a businessman and
multi-millionaire self-made millionaire
and so he was the head of fundraising
for the Clinton
campaign uh for the Southeastern United
States and his reward was he was named
ambassador to
Luxembourg so he said that when the
Lewinsky scandal broke all the
fundraisers got together and called each
other and said he's got to resign right
we have to we have to confront him
together and we've got to get him to
resign Gore can become president and
then Gore can run for his own term in
2000 so
um Clinton agreed to get together not
knowing why they were getting together
but they said that they all needed to
see him together he said they rented a
room a a banquet room at the Willard
Hotel across the street from the White
House on uh on 15th
Street and he said that they had met the
night before and they had rehearsed this
that they are going to they're going to
be strong and they're going to be United
and they're going to tell him that he
has to resign or that none of them are
going to raise money for anybody anymore
this is going to be it they have to
resign and make room for for
Gore and so he said Clinton finally gets
to the
room and
before anybody can even say
anything he
says I have wronged you friends with
this like almost this quivering almost
cry in his voice and he begs their
forgiveness and he pleads for them not
to abandon him that what he did was
wrong and he's so sorry he can't believe
that he did what he
did
now like every president he's a
sociopath this is probably an act it's
probably all made up you have to be a
sociopath to be president you climb to
the top on the backs of everybody else
around you that's just the nature of the
system that we have
right so the Ambassador said to me
nobody ever mentioned resignation he
said by the end of the meeting he said
most of us were crying God and then
somebody started chanting Clinton
Clinton Clinton and that's how it ended
and that's how he walked out with people
chanting
Clinton and I said I said he suckered
you he said of course he suckered us he
knew exactly what was going on yeah he
knew exactly what we were there for and
he suckered every one of us he said but
that was that Clinton magic that people
used to talk about and I said I saw it
that that day in the meeting I saw it
myself he had a meeting out of his hands
yeah
[Laughter]
wow
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