- PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Former White House spokesman Mike McCurry drew cheers
and applause Monday when he described President Clinton as a ``richly qualified
leader'' who was ``exasperatingly stupid'' in his personal life.
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- McCurry, in his first public lecture
since leaving the White House Oct. 1, spoke frankly about his three years
as Clinton's spokesman before an audience of about 200 at the University
of Pittsburgh.
-
- When one man asked how McCurry felt about
leaving the White House after three years, McCurry jumped in the air, spread
his arms wide and shouted ``Free at last!''
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- McCurry had nothing but praise for Clinton's
performance as president, citing his economic and peacemaking accomplishments.
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- ``He is an enormously gifted and richly
qualified leader for our nation but someone who is exasperatingly stupid
in his personal life,'' McCurry said.
-
- History will never forget the Monica
Lewinsky scandal, he said.
-
- ``I think there will be an asterisk next
to his name in the record books,'' he said. Clinton's presidency ``will
always be marred -- stained -- by the episode with Monica Lewinsky.''
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- He spared no criticism for the White
House press corps, saying he was ``literally stunned'' in many press briefings
during the Lewinsky scandal when reporters failed to ask a single question
about other issues.
-
- But McCurry admitted he was duped by
Clinton's initial public claim that he didn't have an affair with Lewinsky.
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- ``I was aware of the potential for deception,
but I just didn't want to believe he had the capacity to deceive,'' McCurry
said.
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