Clinton rages against Dimbleby in Panorama confrontation over Lewinsky

Bill Clinton loses his temper with David Dimbleby during a BBC television interview to be broadcast this week when he is repeatedly quizzed about his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

The former American president, famed for his amiable disposition, becomes visibly angry and rattled, particularly when Dimbleby asks him whether his publicly declared contrition over the affair is genuine.

His outrage at the line of questioning during the 50-minute interview, to be broadcast on Panorama on Tuesday night, lasts several minutes. It is the first time that the former President has been seen to lose his temper publicly over the issue of his sexual liaisons with Ms Lewinsky.

The President initially responds to Dimbleby's questions by launching a general attack on media intrusion. When the broadcaster persists with the question of whether the politician was truly penitent, Clinton directs his anger towards Dimbleby.

The atmosphere, which was initially warm, then turns decidedly chilly. One BBC executive who has seen the interview, which took place in a New York hotel last Wednesday, said: "He is visibly angry with Dimbleby's line of questioning and some of that anger gets directed at Dimbleby himself. As outbursts go, it is not just some flash that is over in an instant. It is something substantial and sustained.

"It is memorable television which will give the public a different insight into the President's character. It will leave them wondering whether he is as contrite as he says he is about past events. Dimbleby manages to remain calm and order is eventually restored."

Mr Clinton agreed to speak to Panorama as part of the publicity campaign for his autobiography My Life.

Clinton Bans Reporter From White House: News/Current Events News
Source: www.drudgereport.com
Author: Matt Drudge
Posted on 09/28/1999 19:08:24 PDT by Doctor Raoul

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1999 17:09:42 ET XXXXX

FIGHT CLUB: FURIOUS CLINTON ORDERS REPORTER BANNED AFTER GRILLING!

**Exclusive** A furious President Clinton has ordered a Washington reporter banned from the White House, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, after the reporter quizzed the president during a press picnic about illegal money from China and the campaign-finance scandal!

Paul Sperry, Washington bureau chief of INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY, was thrown off the invite list at the White House after he grilled the president for more than 10 minutes about various political scandals.

"It turned into a real shout match on the south lawn," one eyewitness told the DRUDGE REPORT.

At one point during the argument, President Clinton put his hands up to both sides of his head, wiggled them, rolled his eyes and gave Sperry a funny face.

"Make sure that guy never gets close to me again!" the president ordered one of his aides after the showdown.

White House press secretary Joe Lockhart, angry that Sperry transformed a family picnic into a confrontational press conference, told an associate that Sperry is a "Class A s**thead."

Lockhart personally informed Sperry during a phone conversation late Monday that he would never be invited back to the White House.

"The only regret we have is inviting you -- and we wont make that mistake again," Lockhart warned Sperry. It began innocently enough.

"When are you going to have your next formal press conference, Mr. President?" Sperry casually asked Clinton while he was shaking hands and socializing with reporter and their families.

Clinton: "I don't know. I'll have one."

Sperry: "When?"

The president replied, "Why?"

Sperry: "The American people have a lot of questions about illegal money from China and the campaign-finance scandal."

It was at that point that Clinton started to become unglued. "Who are you with?" Clinton demanded to know.

"I don't like you're accusatory tone. It sounds like you've already got the story written."

Sperry gave the president his business card and said that the public wanted answers about the allegations of illegal contributions from China.

Clinton: "I've been all around this country, and you are the first person to ask me about it. Not one person has brought that up... You want to know the only person who has been linked to money from China?

Haley Barbour and the RNC, that's who!" A red-faced Clinton began to rant about Waco, Republicans, the FBI and gun control.

Pictures taken by a newspaper photographer show Clinton wagging his finger in Sperry's face, Washington's version of THE FIGHT CLUB.

Sperry says he was stunned and "woozy" for hours after. When asked on Tuesday if he felt intimidated during his one-on-one with the most powerful man in the world, Sperry said: "No, he's only about a half an inch taller than I am."

From news.bbc.co.uk:

David Dimbleby

David has anchored six general election night programmes

David Dimbleby is a major presenter of current affairs programmes and documentaries for BBC television.
In June 2002 he chaired the BBC One debate Our Monarchy - the Next 50 Years.
In February 2003, he chaired the BBC One debate Iraq: Britain Decides and the following month he presented BBC One's two-part documentary Mandela: The Living Legend.
He has been the chairman of BBC One's Question Time since January 1994.
Early career
David Dimbleby joined the BBC as a news reporter in Bristol after leaving university and appeared in network programmes from 1962. During his BBC career he has presented Panorama, 24 Hours, People and Power, The Dimbleby Talk-In and This Week Next Week.
He wrote and presented the award-winning TV series The White Tribe of Africa and An Ocean Apart.
Live events
David has also been the commentator for a wide range of special outside broadcast events for BBC television including the State Opening of Parliament, Trooping the Colour and the Remembrance events at the Cenotaph.
He commentated at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, and during the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and for the BBC's programmes to mark the Golden Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth in 2002.

He has presented many budget specials and election night programmes for the BBC. He was anchor man for the 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2001 general election night coverage, and for the US presidential election programmes in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.
Education
David was born in 1938 and educated at Glengorse School, Battle, and Charterhouse. He learnt French in Paris and Italian at Perugia, and studied politics, philosophy and economics at Christ Church College, Oxford, where he also edited the student magazine, Isis.

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