The Clinton Diaries: A Novel

Fred Petrovsky
CreateSpace/The Clinton Diaries, LLC
ISBN 9781438215648
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (11/08)

Ten years have passed since that very painful time in American History when scandal rocked the White House.  “The Clinton Diaries” is written in diary format from President Clinton’s perspective and is a compilation of facts that the author obtained about his infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky.  It is a work of fiction and satire with a definite ring of truth to what probably transpired in the White House during the Lewinsky scandal.  I found it to be informative and a well-written book. 

“The Clinton Diaries” portrays Bill Clinton as a man who constantly struggles with sexual addiction. He wants to be a good husband to Hillary, but is unable to squash his “bad boy” desires. The affairs and scandals hurt Hillary, but really take their toll on Chelsea who has to cope with her parent’s problems and the public ridicule of her Dad.

The author does a great job with his humane portrayal of the President.  I remember being completely disgusted and frustrated during this time period because I felt that the President should not have put himself and our country in this embarrassing situation.  How could someone so brilliant be so stupid and expose our country to so much ridicule worldwide?  After reading this perspective, I was surprised to find that I actually sympathized with him and his lack of control over his addiction, the pressures of being a public figure and the constant barrage of criticism that he received.

It is amazing at how little time he actually spent with Monica Lewinsky and how his staff worked to keep them apart to avoid a scandal.  They met a few times and had several phone conversations, i.e., phone sex.  Several small gifts did pass between them, including a few of the ties that we saw him wearing during speeches from that time period. 

Monica Lewinsky, on the other hand, is not portrayed in a very flattering light in this account.  She is seen more as an opportunist who played up to Bill Clinton’s weaknesses.  He was not her first affair with a high profile married man.  Even though she was very young at the time, she seemed to know what she was doing when she saved the dress with “the evidence” of the affair.   

I am glad that ten years have passed and that this embarrassing episode is in our past.  But I did find this account of the scandal, “The Clinton Diaries” by Fred Petrovsky to be very well written and definitely worth reading.

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