World

Monica Worldwide Inc.

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 3, 1999 / 9:59 AM EST / CBS

If the U.S. strategy for Monica Lewinsky has been "dignity and distance," the strategy overseas has been "dignity and dollars," reports CBS News Correspondent Mark Phillips.

The Monica blitz has gone transatlantic. A British channel that paid Lewinsky about $600,000 for an interview has sold it through outlets around the world. The interview will air in the U.K. on Thursday.

Lewinsky gets 70 percent of the take from the U.K. interview, which was done by respected British anchorman John Snow.

"I had a problem about being part of the Monica industry," says Snow. "But, on the other hand, at least I was on the front end of it."

If money changed hands, Snow says, that's show business.

"She was a commodity. Everybody knew she had a value - the first time out, she would have a value. One feels a bit queasy about it. But, in fairness, she deserves the money."

How does Lewinsky come across in the end?

"She makes the case that she is nowhere ahead, no California bimbo. She's a collected, focused, reasonable, open, sexual, sensual, easy woman, but not a woman of easy virtue," says Snow.

But it seems there is some easy money here.

Newspaper rights have been sold in The Mirror, although the rival Sun says it has access to the American TV interview. Access also has been sold to all of the glittery, glossy European gossip magazines.

Lewinsky will be in Britain next week signing copies of her book in stores around the country. She's expected to draw a crowd.