text: "See below. Will send PIR comments shortly.To: CDMFr: CaitlinRe: Branch BookOverview:There are few surprises in this book. The ""surprises"" that might exist are buried and took a close reading to pickup on—the two main ones are about the terror clause of WJC's crime bill and why he hadn't disclosedinformation about Lewinsky (because he hadn't wanted to become a witness against her). There are a lot ofthings that have been covered in My Life and other publications. Quite honestly the book was pretty boring andmuch more focused on Branch than I had anticipated. While not as ""and this day and the next day"" as My Lifeit does share many of the same elements that would engage only a true Clinton fanatic or historian. The fact thatthere appears to be no index also makes it difficult for anyone looking for a quick hit to get one. FurthermoreWJC's words are so interlaced with Branch's recollection through his dictations that the number of direct WJCquotes was far fewer than I had expected.HRC was not as much of a player as one might imagine. Her role is largely seen through her interactions withBranch when he is recording WJC. Her statements were consistent with the past with the exception of theGephardt comment and didn't grab much attention at all.Ell (Others included HRC's devotion to CVC thoughtthat there should not be a special prosecutor and images of her returning from meetings. They were pretty muchaligned with her interactions with Branch.) Surprisingly or not surprisingly many of the problems discussed inthe book are those which face the current Administration—Middle East peace North Korea China etc...Branch repeatedly injects his feelings on specific subjects and seems to use the book to voice his own opinionof the Administration and events of the time. He clearly has topics he prefers over others (for example hisconnection with the events in Haiti result in a lot of discussion about it) but there are some subjects that arestrikingly sparsely discussed such as Rwanda. Its absence from long discussions was surprising but it did notappear as thought WJC ever-dodged questions about the topic they just weren't addressed. Much like My Lifeone theme that repeated itself was WJC's conflict with and disdain for the media especially long passagesabout NYT and Washington Post. There are a few instances where gives them credit on their reporting but youwould be hard-pressed to find them. Additionally there are numerous mentions of WJC's acute allergies and hischronic fatigue with imagery of him falling asleep in sessions on more than a couple occasions.The book has quite a bit on Whitewater but given the dearth of public documentation there is little that Branchcould write that hadn't been said. One thing I had not recalled was the D'Amato's subpoena of CVC's friendslater quashed who slept over while HRC's Rose Law Firm records were in the White House. Branch doesportray a helpful distinction in how WJC looked at Whitewater and other scandals. While WJC attacksWhitewater as a political hunt Branch does have him WJC saying that Filegate needed to be separated fromWhitewater because this was a legitimate inquiry. There are some quips that could catch someone's eye suchas WJC referring to Paula Jones as ""a 'new bimbo' he [WJC] didn't even recognize.""Branch does not dwell on Lewinsky or the impeachment. With the exception of Bruce Bennett and Kendall noother lawyers are mentioned. There is one passage that I am looking into in which WJC says part of the reasonhe didn't mention his relationship with Lewinsky at first was because she was being threatened with jail time ifshe was found to be lying under oath and had he told the truth he could become a witness against her. This is avery small passage that could easily be missed but one that it is important to note as I don't recall hearing thisbefore. (This is addressed more fully below.)There are a few relationships that track through the book more than others. They include WJC's relationshipwith Gore which maps in part because it is not a focal point until the end and his contentious relationship withJanet Reno. The one Senator that appears to be most discussed negatively is Moynihan. All three of these issuesare discussed in turn below. WJC is portrayed as an extremely loving and attentive father and HRC is portrayedin a much more human light than other books/articles covering this time period with ample mention of herrelationship with CVC and images of affection between her and WJC both pre- and post-impeachment.On foreign relations there is a lot of time spent discussing the Middle East Northern Ireland the BalkansChina Russia Pakistan/India and in the beginning of the book Haiti. (Note: Much of what is written aboutHaiti is about Branch's own experience there and on the subject.) There is also a fair amount of discussionabout North Korea but nothing that has not been discussed in the past few weeks. Bin Laden is discussed inwhat seems to track mention of him in My Life which seems to have more detail and background than thisbook.In certain cases there is more detail here than in My Life for example on his trip to Pakistan WJC wrote that theUSSS cancelled one stop because they would be ""defenseless"" flying in whereas Brach writes that the streetswould be lined with ""assassins."" There are candid looks at WJC's take on certain people and the relationshipbetween some such as Albright and Berger's dislike of Holbrooke and a more detailed depiction of Yeltsin'sdrinking such as yelling outside of Blair House for a cab to get pizza.One thing to note is that often times WJC seems to be speaking to Branch intentionally without the recordersgoing but Branch writes about those interactions and exchanges nonetheless. Such is the case with HRC'sGephardt comment.The following items are addressed in the memo:Wen Ho Lee and Terror Clause of Crime Bill 4WJC and Lewinsky's Silence 4HRC and Kissinger 4HRC and gay/lesbian 5Tension with Moynihan 5HRC as World Player 5Jesse Jackson 6Tension with Janet Reno 6Portrayal of Carter 7Relationship with Gore 8Other (This includes: Maggie recommending Panetta HRC and Haiti Invasion ITAV co-author flapSubpoenas of CVC's Friends Vernon Jordan on Extramarital Sex Gore/HRC ticket WJC suggesting Rubin runfor Senate Trip to South Asia) 11Wen Ho Lee and Terror Clause of Crime BillIn discussing Wen Ho Lee's release Branch characterizes WJC's lack of knowledge about the strainedinterpretation of the anti-terrorist provisions in the crime bill and arbitrary detentions as a ""confession."" My Lifeonly mentions Lee's accusation in passing and does not again discuss Lee. Below are two passages fromBranch's book the first giving context and the second about the Terror Clause of the Crime Bill.➢ The year closed on spies and terrorism. The Justice Department after fierce debate among the securityagencies indicted nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee on fifty-nine counts of copying classified material to hispersonal computer. Lee was being handled like a radioactive espionage defendant—no bail lockdownsolitary confinement—even though the long dragnet had produced no evidence that he offered secrets toChina or anyone else. The president said experts were telling him the worst spies sometimes stored theirtreason for a rainy day. This sounded fishy to me. Clinton shrugged. Nothing would please him morethan to establish Lee's innocence. [Branch 577]➢ While Lee was indicted Branch writes that WJC noted that others ""were being held in secret unchargedand untried...He [WJC] was embarrassed not to have sponsored this measure into law withoutforeseeing such arbitrary detentions...Under the terrorist act any prosecutor should decide within thelegal limit...whether to bring charges on the testimony of a secret informant or otherwise. To hisdismay Clinton had learned of defendants held incommunicado for more than six months. One extremedetention had last three years. 'I think it's wrong' he [WJC] said. 'It's not American. We accept guiltypeople on the street to enjoy and protect our freedom.' [Branch 629]WJC and Lewinsky's SilenceBranch writes that part of WJC's motive for not discussing what had happened with Lewinsky was that it couldsend her to jail as she had denied it.➢ ""Also he pointed out that Starr had been threatening to jail Lewinsky all year over her sworn denial ofthe affair. If Clinton had come forward with anything at all about their relationship he said Starr couldhave turned him into a witness against Lewinsky betraying her discreet silence. Such subtleties whileoriginal struck me as tendentious. The president never claimed chivalry as the real motive for hissteadfast denial nor did he dispute the essential truth of Lewinsky's account."" [Branch 511]HRC and KissingerThe following could be fodder for people who want to continue to string along the notion of channeling EleanorRoosevelt.➢ There is a passage in which HRC describes an exchange she had with Kissinger at a dinner where hecomplained that if the health care bill passed he wouldn't be able to see his own doctor. She continued tosay ""it was interesting in fact that she had dreamed about Kissinger only a few nights before. Hisvisage turned suddenly effervescent at a banquet announcing gladly that his worries were over becausethe Clinton health care bill was dying. 'Oh no Dr. Kissinger' she replied coolly. 'Don't be sure that it'sdead. We'll keep fighting and there's always light at the end of the tunnel.' She said Kissing blanchedspeechless at her deft reminder of the Vietnam War...Now at last in Hillary's dream it registered thathis strategic designs had spewed carnage and venom for seven needless years...'That's what I dreamed'Hillary repeated lost in thought. 'You know I always get my revenge in dreams but never in real life.'[Branch 179]HRC and gay/lesbianWriting about a call with HRC from NYS Branch recalls how WJC's counsel got very ""exercised."" WJC leftthe room. ""He was subdued on his return. 'You know I've had a lot more contact with gay people in my lifethan Hillary.' He sighed. Her temperament had a conservative religious core formed before homosexual issueswere even mentionable. New York politics was a tough crucible and she was unsure what heat she could take.On the other hand personal experience could speed adaptation."" [Branch 551]Tension with MoynihanThere are several occasions throughout the book that Branch recalls WJC's grievances and frustration withMoynihan. For example:> When Moynihan called for the international arms embargo to be unilaterally lifted so that Bosnia couldfight for themselves Branch writes ""The president flinched when I mentioned [it]...'That's just afreebie for him' snapped Clinton 'and he knows it.'"" [p.140]> In regard to health care: ""Echoing comments by Hillary at dinner he [WJC] faulted Senator Moynihanfor aimless hearings conducted without a strategy or theme."" [p.170]➢ Discussing Independent Counsel: ""She [HRC] was especially scornful of the Democrats and quoted anumber of them. Senator Moynihan for instance publicly said the Clintons were nice people and he wassure they had nothing to hide. 'Why not have an investigation?' he often asked. She said Moynihanskated blithely on the surface never produced results in Congress and could not withstand such scrutinyhimself for five minutes living in an apartment secured through his chairmanship of the PennsylvaniaAvenue Development Corporation."" [Brach 182]➢ ""Donnybrook"" argument in which Moynihan said of a fundraising speech WJC gave citing a regrettedhypothetical about a controversial decision. Moynihan told the press ""He doesn't understand...that he'sconceding the principles."" WJC confronted him about lack of context given to the statement to the pressand said that Moynihan knew what he was doing by ""feeding the beast of hostile presumption aboutClinton's motives."" [Branch 299]HRC as World PlayerThere are several images as HRC as a player on the world stage both with WJC and on her own. Severalexamples follow:➢ Middle East: Discussing peace with King Hussein: ""They had retreated for lunch as two couples—theClintons with the king and his wife Queen Noor—in the family dining room... Their agenda was adelicate race between Hussein's failing health and his desire to make peace with Israel. The presidentsaid he and Hillary pounded away on symptoms of national estrangement: closed boarders waterdisputes travel barriers war grievances contested airspace sealed electrical grids and so on. Husseingave them a feast of goodwill without commitment on any point."" [Branch 170]> South Asia: Regarding her trip to South Asia with CVC in 1995 ""Her [HRC's] schedule was far moredemanding than ceremonial pushing both conflict resolution and civic empowerment for downtroddenwomen."" [Branch 236] Later Branch tells of Benazir Bhutto praising CVC and HRC. ""By contrast witha superficial American press which portrayed Hillary as a demure tourist of no policy significance inexotic Asia Bhutto said she had touched essential political chords with whirlwind encouragements forcitizenship groups and small-scale economic development."" (The note contrasting Bhutto corresponds toa NYT article which Branch quotes in the footer saying ""she [HRC] played the traditional role of FirstLady as wife and mother..."") [Branch 246]> China Speech: Branch outlines how HRC felt the speech needed to be bigger than China and how shedepicted the ""harsh reality everywhere"" from China to Africa. He then cites WJC commenting on therave reviews of HRC's speech. [Branch 289]➢ Regarding the Russian financial system meltdown Branch writes ""Yeltsin seemed so removed fromurgent political tasks that both Clintons counseled him directly."" [Branch 512-513]Jesse JacksonBranch writes about Jesse Jackson calling CVC after the Lewinsky story broke and having continued contactwith her throughout the period. WJC thanks him for his support of CVC. This goes into some detail about WJCsgratitude but the fact that Jackson ""counseled"" CVC has been public knowledge dating back to at least 1999.➢ ""But now Jesse had done something he would not forget. When the Lewinsky news broke he calledChelsea at Stanford. Jesse was the only nonfamily adult with her cell phone number. How he got it wasanother story. Jesse said he knew this was terrible for her. Nothing like it had ever happened inAmerican politics. He did not know everything involved but he wanted to remind Chelsea how muchher parents loved her. Their family needed to stick together now above all and if she needed to counselrage or pray he was always available."" [Branch 497]Tension with Janet RenoThroughout the book from his nomination of her WJC is portrayed as having no opinion to having a negativeopinion of Janet Reno.> ""He complained about Janet Reno—made it clear in fact that he felt alienated from his own attorneygeneral. If he removed her however the pending decision on yet another special prosecutor [for 1996campaign finance] would fall to Reno's deputy Jamie Gorelick who Clinton feared may share Reno'swholesale devotion to outside control for any case in which the president himself may become atarget...If he removed both Reno and Gorelick to start fresh it would touch off a firestorm of protestlike Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre of the Justice Department officials during the Watergate scandal.That was not an option."" [Branch 388-389]> Branch writes about WJC talking about Reno and Louis Freeh disregarding a letter from D'Amato andcontinuing to allow independent counsel to go after Ciseneros. The same held true for Mike Espy.Branch then outlines a meeting between WJC and Reno. Reno had made public statements about her""desire to stay on the job. 'I told her I didn't like that one damn bit' the president said tersely. 'I didn'thire her to work for the New York Times and Washington Post. I hired her to work for me.'"" [Branch398] He continues to outline that Clinton did give Reno credit for some good achievements includingcoordination with U.S. attorneys and that he didn't blame her for the special prosecutor on Whitewaterbut that ""he did blame her for abdicating responsibility to supervise the investigations ever since lettingmandates multiply almost at will. She accepted criteria that were ludicrous and crassly partisan. Renohad failed to defend the presidency itself—not Clinton personally but the institution—and by extensionthe entire executive branch...He told me she had no clue what he meant. His advisers considered hermore naïve than upright and the fuzziness of the distinction seemed to save her."" [Branch 399] He citesthat Clinton warned her that she should prepare herself for not staying in the job for the entire secondterm.Portrayal of Jimmy CarterThere are parallels that could be drawn between WJC/BHO and Carter/WJC both in terms of Carter's trip toNorth Korea and the mission he went on to Haiti. WJC clearly was frustrated by Carter's seeming desire to beon the front lines.North Korea:➢ ""On North Korea he [WJC] said Jimmy Carter had initiated his own recent trip with a call to Al Goreand Clinton had approved the volunteer mission to break through North Korea's extremeisolation... Sure enough Carter did reach North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung who proposed to allowinspection of North Korea's nuclear facilities in exchange for relief from the harsh economic sanctions.The only hitch was that Carter announced the terms on CNN before they became official addinggratuitously that he never had agreed with sanctions in the first place. News stories had the White Houseseething but Clinton made light of the spat. He said the deal was since ratified by an exchange of lettersand he did not believe Carter would criticize official policy 'if the game were still in doubt.' [Branch162]Haiti:➢ After pushing to be sent to Haiti and enlisting Colin Powell and Sam Nunn to get WJC to break withGore (who said Carter shouldn't be trusted a second time) and Christopher and approve the mission toHaiti to seek a truce with the junta Carter is portrayed as acting stubbornly and having 'clientitis'(arguing for acceptance of Haitian generals versus what was in the United States' best interest). Hedidn't want to leave and WJC told him he had to. Like after North Korea Carter again Carter went tothe press first. ""The three negotiators flew back to Washington late Sunday and Carter invited to stayover at the White House called CNN's Judy Woodruff after midnight to arrange an interview the nextmorning before he reported to Clinton on his mission. This conduct the president said tersely was notright...The press was full of retrospective stories about friction between him and his three prominentnegotiators...He said the current newsweeklies lapped up criticism by Carter as an embarrassment toClinton...Many of his advisers griped that Jimmy Carter thought he was still president but Clintonfound this criticism too jaundiced. Carter had spoken with restraint at their joint press conference heallowed exhibiting a keen political ear...To Clinton Carter simply felt that he had earned the right tospeak his mind as an international statesman even about a mission he had accepted for the United Statesgovernment complete with an Air Force jet. This sense of entitlement could make Carter a thorn butClinton thought his value far outweighed the political annoyance. He considered Carter a sterling ex-resident."" [Branch 200-201]Dispatch of Bombers Near Iraq➢ ""He expected military strikes to win bipartisan assent including former presidents Ford Reagan andBush. 'Dole will support me' he said. 'Carter will probably criticize me. Carter always criticizes but hedoesn't have much positive to say."" [Branch 518]GoreFor the majority of the book there is little discussion of WJC and Gore's relationship. There are few placeswhere he is briefly mentioned and a couple of scenes with some levity. The end however describes theseemingly brutally candid conversation between the two about the 2000 election and the impeachment.➢ On page 92 Branch writes ""No he [Clinton] did not ask Gore to take over a failed foreign policy asalleged but to improve public presentations by his troika of 'bad talkers': shy National Security AdviserTony Lake boring Secretary of State Warren Christopher and disorganized Defense Secretary LesAspin."" [Branch 92]➢ In one-passage WJC talks about asking Gore to lead the independent review of Hazel O'Leary and alsohaving Gore substitute for him at an economic conference in Japan. The latter did not fare well as othernations were offended that Gore not WJC attended. Gore insisted that WJC needed to go to Japan toredeem himself and the administration for his absence. Gore pointed to a few days in January but WJC""pronounced them vital to Chelsea's schoolwork. Gore blinked. So what?...Mutual exasperation spiked.`Al' Clinton told him 'I am not going to Japan and leave Chelsea by herself to take these exams.' Goreerupted. He thought Clinton had lost his bearing. They had a big fight said the president and were stillwrangling about dates for Japan."" Branch states that this fight wound up being around the time WJC sawLewinsky. [Branch 316-317]➢ On page 396-397 there is a scene which shows Gore's sense of humor and Gore WJC et al working asa team to secure the Cabinet for the second term.➢ Later there is a passage about an exchange between WJC and HRC about Gore trying to hire a secondcriminal lawyer. HRC already knew he was paying the first one $30000 per month. The conversation isabout a leak of an offer from Jim Neal of TN the former Watergate prosecutor to defend Gore for free.The exchange is more on ethics of the offer and its leak to the press than about Gore.➢ On Gore's announcing his campaign. ""The president had called twice to congratulate Gore for hiskickoff events—once from Geneva hours later from Paris. Clinton thought the only glitches weretechnical... But Gore got all the big things right. His twofold message was perfect: distinguish himselffrom Clinton's personal flaws and tell voters exactly what he would do for them in the White House.The president said it was fine for Gore to call Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky 'inexcusable.'First it was true. Second it showed a necessary strength to criticized the boss. Third Gore would bebadgered to death until he did. 'Al' Clinton told him 'if you thought it would help in the campaign Iwould let you flog me at noon right on the doorstep of the Washington Post.'"" [Branch 553-554]Branch continues that WJC told Gore to ignore reporting that he was offended or critical of hiscampaign. ""On tape the president said he confided his chief strategic worry only to Gore himself and toGore's pollster Mark Penn. The vice president must project his platform—where he stood preciselyhow and where he would lead the country—because the Republicans would try to knock him offsubstance."" [Branch 554]➢ WJC offered critiques of Gore's campaign throughout but it was always framed as his fear of Gore notsucceeding him. For example ""Clinton still thought Gore could win. Most people considered him smartexperience and motivated. He examined the pitfalls for Gore in a campaign showcasing presidentialcharacter over detailed agendas for the country. Reporters called Gore ""stiff"" but Clinton discountedthis liability. He thought Gore's droll sense of humor would wear well over time. Gore also wasperceived to be too conventional a Democrat therefore lacking independence which called for Gore toemphasize more his own passion and initiatives. Then the president said Gore could have a broodingquality about him not worrisome or off-putting in itself but potentially damaging if his serious naturefailed to give voters a lifted. Clinton isolated the word ""sunny."" Gore needed more of it."" [Branch 599]➢ He also complimented Gore's knowledge of government workings. ""Gore knew Washington. Believeme said the president his administration would have made many more errors in the first two years hadit not been for the vice president."" He then goes on to say that WJC suggested Gore find someone whowould be a bright spot to run with perhaps Durbin or Bradley or Kerrey although he also goes intogreat detail about the virtues of Mikulski even though she would never get chosen. How much of thiswas WJC's emphasis versus Branch's focus on his home state senator is unclear. [Branch 599 618-19]➢ WJC criticized Gore for not running on the successes of the administration. ""They should be runningessentially for a third term said the president but they were afraid the Clinton-Gore record wouldtarnish them with Clinton's character."" [Branch 623] Branch gives WJC's critique of Gore in debatethat had been heard before—that Gore lacked style and a light touch.➢ Branch has WJC recalling a conversation between WJC and Gore where ""Gore had bared himself in oneof their stressful consultations by insisting that he Gore was a good politician elaborating that hemeant good on the policy and also good on the politics but admitted that he did not instinctively blendthe two. Gore said he had to think about it and Clinton thought this was pretty close to the bone...Hehad the stuff to be a great president and this was the message that Clinton must convey somehowwithout seeming to brag on his own record."" [Branch 623-624]➢ The big passage about Gore begins on page 641 and extends to 645. Branch notes that WJC was unsureat first about recording the details. At the outset it says ""For his own part Gore was not angry nor didhe blame Clinton for his defeat but he wanted to acknowledge forthrightly that some people around himdid."" [Branch 642] It has WJC acknowledging that Gore's use of him was proper—he was best in theWhite House. Then he says ""'I think you made a mistake not to use me more in the last ten days'""Clinton told Gore 'but otherwise that was not a big deal. I was much more upset about your messagenow that we're being honest.'"" [Branch 642] Branch recalls WJC saying Gore fought bag saying that""Clinton's drag plagued every direction."" Clinton then said that Gore was better at governance thanClinton and Gore would be better for the nation than Bush and that he was an ""unparalleled"" vicepresident but that he had ""blind spots."" Branch writes that WJC kept saying their confrontation was""surreal.""o Gore had a ""fresh grievance...he wanted Clinton to know that the Buddhist temple fund-raisingscandal had been the worst experience of his life. No one had ever questioned his personalintegrity but corrosive publicity and whispers had tormented him now for four years. Gore saidhe had not been disposed to blame Clinton. However he remembered telling the president thathe found himself the only English-speaking person at one of those Asian fund-raisers. And thepresident was in charge of the party apparatus that was supposed to screen all the donations fortrouble. So he did blame Clinton in a way. The president told me he could scarcely believe theensuing tales of suspicion. Gore must still be in shock from the election or unhinged. 'I thoughthe was in Neverland' he said."" [Branch 643-644]o Branch continues: ""The vice president asked Clinton about Monica Lewinsky. He had supportedClinton all through the impeachment publicly and privately while declaring himselfdisappointed. Yes said the president. He appreciated that. However persisted Gore Clinton didnot confide any personal feelings. He never explained exactly what happened. There was little tosay Clinton replied beyond failure and regret. He was humiliated and angry had made mistake.He had misled the American people and he was sorry. Gore closed his point with emphasis.Well he said this is the first time you have apologized to me personally. Clinton did a doubletake...Gore treated the confession as a watershed. Their colliding perspectives made both ofthem angry. Clinton exploded that Gore's reaction was phony. What was so significanthere?...Gore exploded back. He was feeling a stubborn repeat of the defensiveness and delayedhonesty that somehow cost the election. Clinton's character was at the root of it..."" [Branch644-45]Other➢ Maggie as Person Recommending Panetta: Unlike in My Life in Branch's book it has WJC askingMaggie to compile confidential suggestions for McLarty's replacement. ""Williams was shrewd discreetand efficient."" [Branch 161]> HRC and Haiti Invasion: Branch asked WJC what HRC thought about his foreign policy team'ssuggestion to invade Haiti. ""He said the pell-mell rush to invade was crazy to her. Reacting against thepressure the lack of options and his sense of being trapped she said he was badly served by his foreignpolicy staff. He said she observed with some suspicion that the chief sponsors of the invasion—LakeBerger and Talbott—were the same people who had pushed the ill-fated appointment of Bobby RayInman as defense secretary."" [Branch 189]> ITAV: ITAV co-author flap in which Sally Quinn spread rumors that HRC had not written the book.Quinn said that HRC had denied credit to the book's collaborator Barbara Feinman a friend of Quinn.HRC said Feinman had withdrawn from the project. Branch notes that the White House had draftchapters in HRC's handwriting. (Branch turned this to be about him and how it affected him as aghostwriter.) From this HRC said that Quinn and her friends launched a rumor that HRC and a femaleveterinarian of Socks' were ""discovered...in flagrante on a bedroom floor in the White House."" [Branch342-343]> Subpoenas of CVC's Friends: Branch tells of how D'Amato as Chair of the Banking Committee hadsubpoenaed all those who might have been in the White House when HRC's Rose firm records werethere. This included ""some two dozen of Chelsea's sleepovers."" Senator Sarbanes quashed thesubpoenas for the sleepovers. [Branch 362]➢ Vernon Jordan Extramarital Sex: In the context of Lewinsky Branch says of Vernon Jordan ""In ourglancing associations I had picked up from Vernon an attitude toward extramarital sex best described aslighthearted or recreational."" [Branch 495]> Gore/HRC ticket: ""By the numbers and Clinton's gut a Gore-Hillary ticket would give Democrats theirbest chance to defeat Bush for the White House. 'Hands down' he [WJC] said tut I don't think Alwould ever do it.'"" [Branch 540]> WJC suggesting Rubin run for NY Senate seat: The passage comes after WJC talks about supportingHRC if she decided to run which raises a question of whether he had preferred Rubin or whether thetwo events are unconnected. ""When the president had urged him [Rubin] to run for and easily win theNew York Senate seat Rubin recoiled...He could not fathom why Hillary wanted to run now...""[Branch 557]➢ On trip to South Asia: Branch says that WJC agreed to cancel a stop in Bangladesh because ""of hardintelligence that Osama bin Laden had lined the route with assassins."" [Branch 594] My Life discussesthe cancelled trip but does not specify it was because of bin Laden or assassins.DI 'Gephardt is an asshole"" Hillary commented. The president pointing to my recorders advised gently that the tapes were on. Shewinced but shrugged with a smile. ""Well he is"" she insisted. In an awkward silence I backed up both machines to erase the firstlady's epithet."" [Branch 263]"