Lewinsky arrived at the White House at approximately 10a.m. She told the Secret Service uniformed officers at the Northwest Gate that she had gifts to drop off for the President, but that Ms. Currie did not know she was coming. Lewinsky and the officers made several calls in an attempt to locate Ms. Currie. The officers eventually invited Lewinsky inside the guard booth.
When Ms. Currie learned that Lewinsky was at the Northwest Gate, she sent word that the President "already had a guest in the Oval," so the officers should have Lewinsky wait there for about 40 minutes.
While Lewinsky was waiting, one officer mentioned that Eleanor Mondale was in the White House. Lewinsky correctly surmised that the President was meeting with Mondale, rather than his lawyers, and she was "livid." She stormed away, called and berated Ms. Currie from a pay phone, and then returned to her Watergate apartment.
Hands shaking and almost crying, Ms. Currie informed several Secret Service officers that the President was "irate" that someone had disclosed to Lewinsky whom he was meeting with. Ms. Currie told Sergeant Keith Williams, a supervisory uniformed Secret Service Officer, that if he "didn't find out what was going on, someone could be fired." She also told Captain Jeffrey Purdie, the Secret Service watch commander for the uniformed division at the time, that the President was "so upset he wants somebody fired over this."
Later that day, the uniformed Secret Service officers at the Northwest Gate were told that no one would be fired -- so long as they remained quiet. According to Sergeant Williams, Ms. Currie said that, if the officers did not "tell a lot of people what had happened, then nothing would happen."
The President told Captain Jeffrey Purdie, the Secret Service watch commander for the uniformed division at the time, "I hope you use your discretion." Captain Purdie interpreted the President's remark to mean that Captain Purdie "wasn't going to say anything," and he in turn told all of the officers involved not to discuss the incident. One officer recalled that Captain Purdie told him and other officers, "Whatever just happened didn't happen."
Captain Purdie told another officer, "I was just in the Oval Office with the President and he wants somebody's ass out here. . . . As far as you're concerned, . . . this never happened."
Next: What Clinton did to make up with Monica.