Lewinsky Goes Hollywood

Mobs of people lined up for a Monica Lewinsky book signing in Los Angeles Monday. Hundreds waited for hours to meet the former White House intern. The signing was billed as Lewinsky's only U.S. stop to promote the book, Monica's Story.

Lewinsky was in town to attend an Oscar party, hosted at Morton's by Vanity Fair magazine, Sunday night. The Los Angeles Times said Lewinsky was a hit at the bash, as a steady stream of celebrities dropped by to say hello as she sat at a table with actress Ellen Barkin and an agent from the Creative Artists Agency. Lewinsky mugged for cameras before disappearing inside the fern-laden Melrose Avenue eatery.

Whether it was curiosity or a chance to capitalize on "Monica Mania," the interest in the most well-known intern to come out of the White House reached a fever pitch at the mall Monday, reports Correspondent Deborah Snell of CBS Station KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

Despite staying up late at the Oscar party, people said Lewinsky, a Los Angeles native, was "bright and chirpy" when she signed their books. Wearing a navy blue pinstripe suit and a blue blouse, she arrived nearly one hour later than the appointed book signing time of 12.30 p.m. PST.

"I think she's beautiful looking," said one customer.

Said another, "It's not for me. I'm getting the book for someone else."

A lot of people said they were in line for somebody else. And others bought several copies, one man saying, "I thought these would make great gifts [for] friends and business associates."

One man from New York bought 50 books, explaining, "We were doing an auction site on the Internet and had a $1,200 bid for one. I was surprised at how high the prices were going" for a signed copy of Monica's Story.

At the book signing, Lewinsky was asked how she liked the Oscar party.

"It was - it was exciting. It was interesting," she said.

Larry Singer, who uses a wheelchair for mobility, said it was interesting meeting Lewinsky.

"I bumped into the table and apologized," he said. "She said, 'Oh, don't worry about that. I get into trouble all of the time'."

Inside the store Lewinsky appeared calm, in contrast to her recent appearance in London, where she cut short a book-signing appearance and fled photographers.

At Monday's event, cameramen and photographers were allowed in, but other journalists were barred. For those who managed to enter, the posted guidelines were clear: "Absolutely no memorabilia, no photographs posed or otherwise." A book receipt was required, too.