Phone Bill

Every president probably has their fair share of secrets, including former President Bill Clinton, whose secrets are about to made public in a new book authored by one of his trusted confidants.

During his eight years in the Oval Office, Slick Willy held 79 taped conversations with old buddy and historian Taylor Branch, which will all appear in Branch’s book, “The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President,” September 29.

Clinton was motivated to leave historians a detailed behind-the-scenes peek of his presidency and invited Branch to secret interview sessions. Among the most interesting conversations the gentlemen shared was that of his affair with Monica Lewinsky, in which Clinton said “I cracked, I cracked” after the Democrats lost Congress, the Whitewater investigation and his mother’s death.

Clinton also told Branch that he and Vice President Al Gore were engaged in a shouting match shortly after Gore lost the 2000 presidential election. The former president felt the then Democratic nominee should have allowed him to campaign in New Hampshire and Arkansas, where he was popular, and which have given Gore enough electoral votes. Gore responded by telling Clinton that his scandals were a “drag” on his campaign.

The interview sessions were kept so secret that only his scheduler had prior knowledge. Branch told USA Today that Clinton later hid the tapes in his sock drawer.