Word: legalism
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...construed things narrowly," one source familiar with Clinton's testimony told TIME. "He was accurate but not helpful, and that was his goal." Such prevarication may earn Clinton a new subpoena, of course, presuming Monica stood by her story. But the President's legal team knows that would make Starr appear to be simply pursuing salacious details, which is exactly how they are trying to paint him. The independent counsel's other option? Take the intern's testimony for what it is -- courtroom evidence of presidential perjury -- and send the whole kit and caboodle along to Congress...
...proceedings against the President. Named one of Washington's 50 top lawyers last year, Lowell, 46, is a Bronx-bred former civil rights attorney who specializes in defending politicians and businessmen. Renowned within the Beltway for his combative manner and impressive trial record, Lowell is particularly skilled at turning legal and ethical problems into matters of mere politics--to the great benefit of his clients. And he has no fear of offending his opponents. Regardie's magazine once declared that Lowell "may well be the most irritating lawyer in Washington...always yipping and nipping in your face...
Officially, Lowell will serve as counsel to the House Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, John Conyers. But the decision to hire him for what could be the highest-profile legal-defense job in a generation was made in large part by Richard Gephardt, the House minority leader, and two other committee Democrats, Barney Frank and Howard Berman. The goal, say insiders, was to bring in someone capable of fighting a partisan war on a legal battlefield. "This situation doesn't call for a law-school dean, former-judge type," says a source familiar with the decision. "This could...
...accident last Thursday that after six hours of testimony, Monica Lewinsky came down from the third floor of the courthouse, exited the elevator and walked right up to Billy Martin. In a legal team known for big egos or big reputations, Martin, 48, is the quietest--and closest--counsel to Monica and her family. He, more than anyone else, has been calling the shots, approving the strategy and holding the family members' nervous hands in the painful public airing of private moments. He is their Minister of Defense...
...reading down a pollster's list of issues, Clinton managed to hit the hot buttons of the Lewinsky case with a speedy detatchment. Still, there were notable absences -- no elaboration on that tricky legal definition of sex, for one. But while opponents will be able to pick holes in the President's sincerity, the core constituency -- those millions of folks who just want to get this over with -- have just about enough of an admission to go on. "This speech was keyed towards the people," says Branegan, "not the political spectrum, not Starr, not Congress...