August 17 1998 Statement His Testimony Grand Jury

### About this speech Bill Clinton August 17, 1998 Source William J. Clinton Presidential Library Following his testimony before the Grand Jury, President Clinton remarks that while he regrets making misleading comments about the Lewinsky allegations, he assures that he spoke truthfully in front of the Grand Jury. He admits that he did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was “not appropriate.” He emphasizes that the matter should be dealt with privately among his immediate family and should not distract the country from dealing with pressing national issues. [Presidential Speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches) | Bill Clinton Presidency ## August 17, 1998: Statement on His Testimony Before the Grand Jury [Play Video](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/video/mp4/1Mb/spe_1998_0817_clinton.mp4)   Fast-forward 10 seconds 0:00 [ Download audio ](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/audio/spe_1998_0817_clinton.mp3 "\(opens in a new window\)") Embed Your browser does not support the video tag. [Miller Center: August 17, 1998: Statement on His Testimony Before the Grand Jury](https://uvamiller.prod.acquia-sites.com/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-17-1998-statement-his-testimony-grand-jury) Download media * [Download Full Video](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/video/mp4/1Mb/spe_1998_0817_clinton.mp4?download=1) * [Download Audio](https://d4q9blt8qjhv3.cloudfront.net/audio/spe_1998_0817_clinton.mp3?download=1) View Transcri
pt ### Transcript Good evening. This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury. I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer. Still I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight. As you know, in a deposition in January I was asked questions about my relationship with Monica Lewinsky. While my answers were legally accurate, I did not volunteer information. Indeed, I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible. But I told the grand jury today, and I say to you now, that at no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence, or to take any other unlawful action. I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors: first, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct. I was also very concerned about protecting my family. The fact that these questions were being asked in a politically inspired lawsuit which has since been dismissed was a consideration, too. In addition, I had real and se
rious concerns about an Independent Counsel investigation that began with private business dealings 20 years ago, dealings, I might add, about which an independent Federal agency found no evidence of any wrongdoing by me or my wife over 2 years ago. The Independent Counsel investigation moved on to my staff and friends, then into my private life. And now the investigation itself is under investigation. This has gone on too long, cost too much, and hurt too many innocent people. Now this matter is between me, the two people I love most, my wife and our daughter, and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so. Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private. And I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It's nobody's business but ours. Even Presidents have private lives. It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives and get on with our national life. Our country has been distracted by this matter for too long. And I take my responsibility for my part in all of this; this is all I can do. Now it is time—in fact, it is past time—to move on. We have important work to do, real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face. And so, tonight I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past 7 months, to repair the fabric of our national discourse, and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century. Th
ank you for watching, and good night. View Transcript Previous [March 25, 1998: Remarks to the People of Rwanda](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-25-1998-remarks-people-rwanda) Next [January 19, 1999: State of the Union Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/january-19-1999-state-union-address) ### More Bill Clinton speeches [View all Bill Clinton speeches](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches?field_president_target_id\[41\]=41) [January 19, 1999: State of the Union Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/january-19-1999-state-union-address) video icon audio icon transcript icon [March 24, 1999: Statement on Kosovo](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-24-1999-statement-kosovo) video icon audio icon transcript icon [June 10, 1999: Address on the Kosovo Agreement](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/june-10-1999-address-kosovo-agreement) video icon audio icon transcript icon [January 27, 2000: State of the Union Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/january-27-2000-state-union-address) video icon audio icon transcript icon [January 18, 2001: Farewell Address](/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/january-18-2001-farewell-address) video icon audio icon transcript icon