Claim:   In 1974, Bill Clinton said about President Richard Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal:

"Yes, the president should resign. He has lied to the American people, time and time again, and betrayed their trust. He is no longer an effective leader. Since he has admitted guilt, there is no reason to put the American people through an impeachment. He will serve absolutely no purpose in finishing out his term; the only possible solution is for the president to save some dignity and resign."

Status:   Not quite.

Origins:   The irony of discovering that President William Jefferson Clinton — who told bald-faced lies to the public about his relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky — had once criticized President Nixon for "lying" and "betraying the trust of the American people" is obvious. The wording of what he said has been exaggerated to heighten that irony, however. The Arkansas Gazette reported the following statements by Bill Clinton — then a law professor at the University of Arkansas (and a candidate for Arkansas' Third Congressional District) — on 8 August 1974:

I think the country could be spared a lot of agony and the government could worry about inflation and a lot of other problems if [Nixon would] go on and resign.

[There is] no question that an admission of making false statements to government officials and interfering with the FBI and the CIA is an impeachable offense.

Read the entire article from the link provided in the "Additional information" section below.

Additional Information:

Representative Is "Out of Step," Clinton Charges (Arkansas Gazette)

Last updated:   24 September 2007

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  Sources:

    Arkansas Gazette.   "Representative Is 'Out of Step,' Clinton Charges."

    8 August 1974.