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 James Naughtie
Senator Hillary Clinton talks with Jim about pre-Iraq war intelligence, Britain's parliamentary processes, the Lewinsky affair and some people's "very strong negative feelings towards me".
| | | | | Listen to the extended interview. | | | | |  | | |
Bill and Hillary Clinton.
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Hillary, now a politician in her own right.
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The transformation of Hillary Rodham Clinton from the woman who famously stood by her man, into a political force in her own right (whilst in between being arguably the most outspoken and influential First Ladies in American history) has been the focus of world attention for over a decade.
Now, on the release of her autobiography 'Living History', she sat down with Jim Naughtie to discuss her role in history and the future.
Whilst strongly supporting military action in Iraq, she told Today that the probes being conducted here over the reliability of intelligence information available before the war is admirable.
"I frankly applaud what's happening here in Britain", she said. "The inquiry in parliament, the willingness of the Government to answer questions is very unlike what is happening in our own country where they're doing everything possible to prevent this sort of inquiry."
"For me there are two overriding issues. First, was the intelligence - consistent as it was - accurate? We need to know the answer to that. Secondly, was there any political fabrication, massaging, exaggeration? That too is a very critical question".
"I supported the President in both Afghanistan and in Iraq, and I did so based primarily, not exclusively, but principally, on my assessment of the intelligence concerning weapons of mass destruction."
With a potentially long career in the Senate ahead of her, Hillary Clinton's chapter in history is by no means already written. But she remains defiant over the intense political and media scrutiny that surrounding her husband's affair with Monica Lewinsky.
"What should have remained private and personal was not", she insists. "It was forced into the public arena for partisan political purposes and it was part of this relentless, merciless investigation, conducted by a well organised, well financed right-wing, that was aimed at undermining Bill's presidency at all costs."
But she views any lingering dislike any members of the public feel towards her as a natural part of the political process.
"I know that there are people who have very strong negative feelings towards me, and some have every right to", she admits.
"It's personal, they don't like my hairstyle, they don't like my outspokenness, whatever it might be and I have no problem with that. But the consistent and relentless attacks and negativism toward me have more to do with what I stand for and what I advocate than something more ephemeral and hard to define. I consider that perversly flattering, because I'm viewed as someone who is willing to speak out."
You can hear an extended version of the interview with Senator Clinton by clicking on the link in the right-hand column.
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