Cal Thomas: History in the room

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MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard.

Our next piece offers some historical context about a former president … and it may be unsuitable for younger listeners. To give you time to hit pause … we will let the music roll a bit before the name Monica Lewinsky comes up again.

President Bill and former first lady Hillary Clinton will testify to Congress about what they knew of Jeffrey Epstein. 

WORLD commentator Cal Thomas says before we listen to what they say next, it’s worth remembering what they’ve said before.

CAL THOMAS: The Clintons are preparing to testify under oath before the House Oversight Committee—answering questions about what they knew, and when they knew it, regarding Jeffrey Epstein.

They initially declined to appear. Only when it became clear the committee—including Democrats—was prepared to hold them in contempt did they agree to sworn depositions.

That raises a familiar question.

When the Clintons testify, how much confidence should the public place in their answers?

History offers a guide. Let’s begin with Bill Clinton:

BILL CLINTON: I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me, I’m going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman. Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie—not a single time. Never. These allegations are false and I need to go back to work for the American people. Thank you. 

[APPLAUSE]

That statement was clear. It was emphatic. And it was later shown to be false.

As the investigation continued, Clinton was pressed—this time in a nationally televised interview.

JIM LEHRER: Mr. President, is that true?

BILL CLINTON: That is not true. That is not true. I did not ask anyone to tell anything other than the truth. There is no improper relationship, and I intend to cooperate...

Pressed to define his terms, Clinton narrowed the language.

LEHRER: You had no sexual relationship with this young woman?

CLINTON: There is not a sexual relationship, that is accurate...

Under oath, the parsing became explicit.

PROSECUTOR: Ms. Lewinsky[’s] statement that there was no sex of any kind, in any manner, shape, or form with President Clinton was an utterly false statement. Is that correct? 

BILL CLINTON: It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.

Eventually, the denial gave way to admission.

BILL CLINTON: Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate… I misled people, including even my wife.

That pattern—absolute denial, careful redefinition, partial acknowledgment—did not end there.

Consider Hillary Clinton. 

During the 2008 campaign, she described a dramatic arrival in Bosnia.

HILLARY CLINTON: I remember landing under sniper fire...we landed in one of those corkscrew landings and ran out because they said there might be sniper fire...I don't remember anybody offering me tea...

Video told a different story. Then came the email controversy.

Clinton tried humor when asked about whether she wiped her private server.

HILLARY CLINTON: I don't, I'm not, I don't, I have no idea, that's why we turned it over. / You were the official in charge. Did you wipe the server? /What, like with a cloth or something? Well no...

She later defended her handling of classified information.

HILLARY CLINTON: I did not email any classified material to anyone on my email. There is no classified...

The FBI’s assessment was different.

JAMES COMEY: There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information…

So now, as the Clintons prepare to testify under oath once again, the question is not whether they are experienced witnesses: They are.

The question is whether decades of carefully chosen words—denials, definitions, and delayed admissions—have earned the public’s trust.

For much of their public life, the consequences have been limited.

That history will be part of the room when they raise their right hands again.

For WORLD, I’m Cal Thomas.

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