me and giggling. Somehow, | perceived her through the filter of arrogance that people with power develop, and / assumed that she was giving me a come-hither look. That simple misperception is what triggered this whole long ordeal. | took her willingness for granted. It was different with Monica Lewinsky. | mean to say, she flashed the strap of her thong underwear—it made my heart go thump—and, you know, I' m a prisoner at the White House. | can’ t go to a motel, but Monica appeared like a gift from Heaven, and | succumbed to temptation. | was fully cognizant that this was a very delicate situation—I even asked for permission to kiss her—yet | blocked out my foresight. Way back in college, when | tried to avoid military service, | was already thinking ahead to campaigning for president, but now | found myself ignoring the likelihood that Monica would not keep our relationship a secret. | certainly didn’ t consider the possibility that she would become so seriously involved with me. It was embarrassing to hear the tape that Linda Tripp made, where Monica told her what she had said to me on the phone: “| love you, Butthead.” | remember thinking when it happened, “Hey, I' m the president of the United States, you can’ t call me Butthead.” However, | immediately decided to treat the situation with humor. But she hung up before | could say, “I love you, Beavis.” HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015138