What the Clintons Were Like in Private After the Lewinsky Affair | John Kiriakou

Summary

The 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

00:00

🤝 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.

05:01

😠 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'.

10:02

🎉 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.

Keywords

💡Notetaker

A notetaker is someone who records information during a meeting or event. In the video, the narrator mentions being the notetaker for a significant meeting with President Clinton and Greek officials, which highlights their role in documenting important discussions and interactions.

💡President Clinton

President Clinton refers to the 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. In the script, he is the central figure in the meeting described, and his actions and words are pivotal to the narrative, particularly his apology for the U.S. government's actions in 1967 Greece.

💡Greece

Greece is the country where the meeting took place, and it is also the subject of President Clinton's apology for the U.S. government's involvement in the 1967 coup. The script describes the cultural and historical significance of Greece, as well as the political climate during Clinton's visit.

💡Apology

An apology in this context is a formal expression of regret or remorse for a past action. The script details President Clinton's apology to the Greek people for the U.S. government's role in overthrowing the Greek government in 1967, which was a major point of the meeting.

💡Military Dictatorship

A military dictatorship is a form of government where the military holds political power. The script refers to the installation of a military dictatorship in Greece in 1967, which was a significant and controversial event that President Clinton apologized for during his visit.

💡Cultural Significance

Cultural significance refers to the importance of a culture or its elements in a historical or societal context. The script mentions Greece as the birthplace of democracy and the source of significant contributions to philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and language, which underscores the deep cultural ties between Greece and the West.

💡Public Perception

Public perception is the collective opinion or view held by the public about a person, event, or issue. The script describes how the Greek public's perception of President Clinton changed dramatically from negative to positive after his heartfelt apology.

💡Hilary Clinton

Hilary Clinton, mentioned in the script, is the wife of President Clinton and a prominent political figure in her own right. The script provides an anecdote about a tense interaction between the Clintons, illustrating the personal dynamics within the presidential couple.

💡Monica Lewinsky Scandal

The Monica Lewinsky scandal refers to a political sex scandal that involved President Clinton and a White House intern, which led to his impeachment. The script alludes to the aftermath of the scandal and its impact on the Clintons' relationship and Hilary Clinton's political ambitions.

💡Ambassador

An ambassador is a high-ranking official who represents their country in a foreign nation. In the script, the American ambassador to Luxembourg shares a story about President Clinton's charisma and influence, demonstrating the role of ambassadors in political and diplomatic affairs.

💡Charisma

Charisma refers to a personal charm or appeal that can influence others. The script describes President Clinton's charisma as a key factor in his ability to win over people, including the fundraisers who initially wanted him to resign.

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