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Impeachment iraq livingston affair Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/index/clinton/clin841.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/index/clinton/clin841.htm
Livingston admits marital 'indiscretions'
Dec. 17, 1998
WASHINGTON - Incoming House speaker Bob Livingston acknowledged Thursday night he had been unfaithful to his wife, telling stunned fellow Republicans he had ''on occasion strayed from my marriage.''
Livingston, R-La., got a standing ovation of support from his colleagues, and a spokesman said the congressman would not resign.
The sensational disclosure came on the eve of the House's impeachment debate involving the sexual conduct of President Clinton. Livingston sought in a statement to draw a distinction from Clinton's conduct, saying ''These indiscretions were not with employees on my staff, and I have never been asked to testify under oath about them.''
His confession drew gasps and then declarations of support from Republicans at a closed-door caucus.
''Bob Livingston has the full support of our conference,'' Rep. James Rogan, R-Calif., said afterwards. ''He accepted responsibility for his conduct and he got a standing ovation. I think he's a stronger leader because he showed character.''
Republican House members emerged grim-faced from the caucus meeting. Livingston spokesman Mark Corallo said, ''There has been no talk of resignation. The Republican Conference is solidly behind'' the speaker nominee.
Livingston's statement claimed there were ''individuals working together with the media'' investigating his personal background to exploit during the impeachment proceedings.
''When I did an early interview with the media after announcing my candidacy for speaker, I told a reporter that I was running for speaker, not sainthood. There was a reason for those words,'' his statement said.
''Because of the tremendous trust and responsibility my colleagues have placed in me and because of forces outside of this institution seeking to influence the upcoming events and/or media coverage of these events, I have decided to inform my colleagues and my constituents that during my 33-year marriage to my wife, Bonnie, I have on occasion strayed from my marriage and doing so nearly cost me my marriage and family.''
Republicans were quick to contrast Livingston's behavior with that of the president. ''He is genuinely honest with us. He's telling the truth and the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue couldn't tell the truth if he had a gun to his head,'' said Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio.
''It reminds us all of all the human frailties,'' said Rep. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark. ''I don't think we should feel uncomfortable proceeding to the floor tomorrow. We have a duty to do under the Constitution.''
Livingston's disclosure follows similar confessions of affairs by Reps. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the Judiciary Committee that approved four articles of impeachment last weekend, Dan Burton, R-Ind., and Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho.
Livingston, 55, was nominated without opposition to succeed Newt Gingrich as speaker on Nov. 18. Gingrich stunned the House with his resignation on Nov. 7.
Livingston has refused to preside over the impeachment debate about President Clinton's role in the Monica Lewinsky affair, but he was on the speaker's dais Thursday for House consideration of a resolution supporting U.S. troops carrying out airstrikes against Iraq.
Livingston had wanted to assume the speaker's post with a minimum amount of controversy. Action against Iraq was unforeseen, but impeachment was becoming his problem after Gingrich, R-Ga., withdrew from the business of running the House.
Until last weekend, Livingston appeared to have succeeded in lying low. But his comments against a House vote on any resolution censuring Clinton - he said such action would ''violate the careful balance of separation of powers'' - landed him in the middle of the debate.
Livingston is scheduled to be elected speaker when the 106th Congress convenes Jan. 6.
Livingston's marital infidelities were first disclosed by a Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call.
Rep. Joe Barton, of Texas, said Livingston's colleagues ''had great sympathy for him. I'm troubled that we continue to have members' of Congress past brought up. We didn't question him about it.''
Rep. Stephen Buyer, of Indiana, a member of the Judiciary Committee, said, ''I'm not going to permit any of this to be a distraction in the trial of Bill Clinton.''
Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts said: ''Personal responsibility means you make a choice, good or bad. You have to be man or woman enough to stand up and accept the responsibility.''
By The Associated Press
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