![[Imagemap]](/US/images/nav_us.gif){kind=small}
January 14, 1996
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Recent attempts by Hillary Rodham Clinton to defuse the controversy surrounding her by taking her case to the media have yet to quiet her critics.
In recent days, Mrs. Clinton has been criticized by those who question her account of her role in two matters under investigation: one involving the Whitewater land development deal and the other involving the 1993 firings at the White House travel office.
Mrs. Clinton embarked on a campaign last week to address questions raised by her critics, through a series of radio and newspaper interviews, but the efforts seem to have inspired a new round of reproach.
|
Hillary Clinton discussing: The Clinton's personal finances Destroying White House files The White House travel office firings |
New York Times columnist William Safire on Sunday defended his calling Mrs. Clinton a "congenital liar," in an essay that sparked the ire of the White House.
Another New York Times columnist, Maureen Dowd, wrote a piece published Sunday harshly criticizing Mrs. Clinton for her "secrecy and righteousness."
Also Sunday, The Los Angeles Times declined to amend its account of an interview with Mrs. Clinton despite objections from a White House lawyer who said the paper misstated the first lady's position on some points, including her feelings on a possible appearance before the Senate Whitewater Committee.
Neither have Mrs. Clinton's media appearances served to mute investigations into her dealings with Whitewater and the White House travel office.
Senate Republicans announced Sunday they would continue to pursue White House E-mail in their ongoing Whitewater investigation which has taken a close look at Mrs. Clinton's role in the matter. A member of the Senate Whitewater Committee, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said the committee has not yet decided whether it will be necessary to subpoena the first lady.
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, Safire said his choice of words was the simplest way to express his opinion of how Mrs. Clinton has explained her involvement in Whitewater and the White House travel office firings. (320K AIFF sound or 320K WAV sound)
"The first word I had in mind was 'prevaricator,' which means 'liar,' and the second one was 'dissembler,' which also means 'liar.'
-- William Safire
"And then I said to myself, 'I'm in the opinion business, why can't I express my opinion with the simple English word that everybody understands?'"
He dismissed the charge made by the first lady Friday that he insulted her parents with the use of the word "congenital," because, Safire said, it suggested she inherited dishonesty.
Safire, who writes a column on word usage for the New York Times, said his study of Latin roots showed the word "congenital" is synonymous with "innate," but has evolved into also meaning "chronic" and "habitual."
The word "liar" is a harsh word, he said, "because it says you are deliberately telling an untruth."
"That's what I specify in three instances," he said.
Mrs. Clinton's denial that she ordered the firings of travel office employees in 1993 was not a crime, Safire said, but it was a lie.
Referring to the Whitewater investigation, Safire questioned the first lady's explanation that another lawyer, not Mrs. Clinton, brought the Arkansas Madison Savings and Loan to the Rose law firm as a client, and she did little of the work. That savings and loan is at the center of the Whitewater investigation.
"If you believe that, then you believe in the tooth fairy," he said.
Minority House Leader Richard Gephardt who also appeared on "Meet the Press," dismissed the probe of Mrs. Clinton's role in Whitewater as a "political witch hunt."
After Safire's column calling the first lady a liar was published, White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry told reporters President Clinton wanted to punch Safire in the nose.
"Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert presented Safire a pair of red boxing gloves in case he met "some White House operatives" outside of the taping studio.
During an interview Friday with the Los Angeles Times, Mrs. Clinton said, "I cannot take Mr. Safire seriously."
Noting her work as an aide to the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate investigation, she said, "I worked with the committee that impeached President Nixon. Safire worked for President Nixon. As best I can tell, he is still working for the Nixon administration."
The Los Angeles Times published an expanded version of the interview Sunday after the White House complained that a story published Saturday was misleading. The paper did not, however, correct or clarify its original story.
Mark Fabiani, the White House lawyer who handles press inquiries regarding Whitewater, said Mrs. Clinton did not tell the Times the Senate Whitewater Committee would not be a fair forum and she did not dismiss the idea of holding a news conference or appearing before the committee to answer questions raised by the Whitewater investigation.
In the article published Sunday Mrs. Clinton said, "I will do whatever it takes to end this (controversy) and to cooperate."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.