Hillary's Double <i>Talk</i>

When questioned by the press Wednesday during a stop on her "listening tour" about comments she made regarding President Clinton during her Talk magazine interview, the first lady said, "everyone is responsible for their own behavior."

The first lady told members of the press that, "a careful reading will show I did not say that" Mr. Clinton was "scarred by abuse" when he was four and that psychological trauma lies at the root of his behavior.

CBS White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports the president said he doesn't believe anybody could think the first lady was making excuses for him.

"I haven't made any excuses for what was inexcusable and neither has she," Mr. Clinton said.

The president said his wife "is an extraordinary person with a passionate commitment to public service and a genuine record of important achievement."

He added that they love each other very much.

The first lady said, "My husband and I have been through a lot. I believe strongly that this is an issue that I have put behind me."

AP
Talk Magazine

When asked why she decided to talk about her private life, she responded, "I'm not going to anymore."

"I am a very strong believer in personal responsibility," the first lady said. "I hope people will take that away from [the article]."

During the interview, the first lady bared her most extensive thoughts yet on matters she refused to address when Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky made headlines.

When the interview was published, Washington buzzed: Why dredge all that up now?

In her month-old campaign for New York's Senate seat, not a single voter, and only one reporter, has confronted Mrs. Clinton with questions about her marriage. Protesters and posters scream "Carpetbagger, go home!" but not much about cheating husbands.

Clinton was noticeably absent from Talk magazine's gala debut party Monday night at the Statue of Liberty, which drew guests ranging from Madonna to Henry Kissinger.

The first lady shares the cover with a scantily clad Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow and a grinning Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Talk magazine editor Tina Brown, reveling in the spotlight Monday, teasingly thanked the mayor for the publicity. She said Mrs. Clinton was unable to attend because of a prior commitment.