■ We the Clintons? Jesse Jackson at anti-impeachment rally: “Why does America embrace Bill Clinton? Because they embrace the Bill Clinton that is them. . . .” Time’s Margaret Carlson: “We all have a little Clinton in us.” . . . Vice President Gore on his boss’s impeachment: “[It] does a great disservice to a man I believe will be regarded in the history books as one of our greatest presidents.” . . . National Park Service at President Andrew Johnson’s preserved 19th-century home in Tennessee tapes over words “and only” on plaque naming Johnson “the first and only president to be impeached by the House of Representatives.” . . . Ten days after own impeachment, Clinton sends wreath to Johnson grave, continuing a little-known tradition of presidents’ sending flowers to mark predecessors’ birthdays. . . . Los Angeles Times’s Elizabeth Shogren, on CNN: “I asked him directly, ‘How does it feel to be impeached, Mr. President?’ And he said, ‘Not bad.’”
■ On trip to Israel, President Clinton speaks to Palestinian National Council, mentions “profoundly emotional” experience of meeting “some little children whose fathers had been killed in conflict with Palestinians.” The Forward, however, reports that Israeli officials say the meeting did not take place. White House doesn’t return calls from Forward, but disputes account when NR asks, saying Clinton shook hands with kids at function. . . . Clinton plans trip to Mexico and Central America Feb. 10-15. . . . Hillary Clinton is “technophobic,” says President Clinton. “I gave her a little digital alarm clock for Christmas. And she gave it back to me after I talked to her about it, and she said, ‘Why don’t you just get me one that winds up?”’
Comments