Hamburg; Germany. "The
Germans love him, his memoirs are sold out, this weekend he is in Germany:
BILL CLINTON, ex-president of the U.S.A." This is how Bild, the
controversial Hamburg tabloid, introduced its report about its editors'
meeting with Clinton. When far more television networks and newspapers
wanted to interview him than he had time to meet, a public feud erupted
in the press between the winners and losers.
At his book signings in Hamburg and Berlin, buyers waited in long lines
for the his autograph and handshake. "Why are the Germans so crazy
about you?" a Bild editor asked Clinton. He suggested the attraction
might be mutual. "Already as a student I saw Germany and was fascinated
by your country. And I believe Germans felt that both the U.S. and your
country pulled in the same direction."
Could he explain, an editor queried, why so many women came to the book
signings? He laughed: "No, this is very amusing when a man is almost
60 and his hair is totally white. In the U.S., too, more women than
men came to the book signings."
In Germany and later in Britain, interviewers and book reviewers focused
very much on Bill Clinton's relationship with his wife after his affairs
with Monica Lewinsky. How did he manage to "win back Hllary's heart"?
Biting his lower lip, he responds: "Hmm, I believe it was a combination
of hard work and the good fortune that we really loved each other. Every
week for over a year we worked with a marriage counselor."
The interviewers pressed on: "How did that go? One hour a week
on a psychologist's couch?" "No," Clinton explained in
detail, "the therapy lasted all day, sometimes almost eight hours.
None of us, however, underwent therapy for eight hours. Sometimes three
hours for me alone, then for Hilary alone. And then again we talked
with each other."
He stressed that it was to his advantage that, although Hillary was
upset about him, she was far more furious with those who tried to drive
him out of the White House. "These people actually helped me improve
my image in Hillary's eyes."
"You opened new wounds," an interviewer interjected. "Monica
Lewinsky protested your description [of your affair with her] in your
memoirs." Did you regret having written your book?" "No!"
Clinton shot back. "Because I revealed no details in my memoirs.
I tried to write respectfully about her. ... I am sorry if she does
not like the book." "I have great understanding for her,"
he stressed when asked if he feels sorry for her. (Bild reported on
the same page that Lewinsky is planning to produce a film about her
relationship to Clinton.)
"Are you going to be the 'First Gentleman' in the White House?"
That is the other major question Clinton most frequently encountered
in his interviews in Germany and Britain. He always cautions that now
it is most important for Hillary and him that John Kerry, "a very
good friend of ours," gets elected president.
"Whenever Hillary should decide to become a candidate [for the
presidency], I will do everything to support her. If Hillary were elected
president, she would do a marvellous job. She is good, really good."
At this point, according to the interviewers, Clinton leaned back in
his chair and grinned broadly. "Yes, certainly," he explained,
"because she has abilities I do not have. ...she is the most talented
person I ever met in my life."
Doubtlessly, many people on this side of the Atlantic find Clinton's
exuberant endorsement of his wife excessive. Yet, there can be no doubt
that, compared to his successor in the White House, they find him pleasantly
articulate, intelligent, and engaging.