"IT'S NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT OURS."
After seven months of lies, deception, frivolous legal maneuvering and constant attacks on independent counsel Kenneth Starr, Bill Clinton thinks all he has to do is bite his lower lip, confess and tell Americans it's time to move on [SPECIAL REPORT, Aug. 31]. We simply cannot abide by a standard that says it is O.K. for a President to engage in an extramarital affair inside the White House with a 21-year-old intern, lie under oath and then engage in sidetracking the inquiry seeking to uncover his wrongdoing. We cannot, as a nation, afford to remain indifferent and silent regarding this man's conduct. DOUGLAS G. VETTER New York City
I hope the leaders of our country, including the Supreme Court Justices, will consider the wisdom of allowing a sitting President to defend a civil suit while in office. The disruption, destruction and divisiveness our nation has experienced over the past months have been exhausting to the people and paralyzing to our leaders. JERRY KING Gretna, La.
Clinton admitted his mistake (to a certain degree), then spent the rest of his Aug. 17 speech attacking Ken Starr. But Clinton brought this on himself. Couldn't he just say, "I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I misled the American people and my family, and I am the only one to blame"? No. He basically blamed Starr. Enough is enough. It's time for a change. JUSTIN DUDLEY, 15 Iowa Park, Texas
Oh, my God! the President of the U.S. is...human! PATRICIA BECKER-SPELLMAN Stevenson Ranch, Calif.
As an assistant principal who has dealt with adolescent behavior for nearly three decades, I have found that it is not very difficult to distinguish between those who are truly sorry for their misbehavior and those who are only sorry they got caught. Most other Americans can tell the difference too. JOHN CAPANNA Pasadena, Calif. The simple words of the Rev. Jim Casy in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath provide meaningful commentary on the Clinton-Lewinsky matter: "There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing. And some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain't nice, but that's as far as any man got a right to say." DONALD A. HERRON Sugar Land, Texas
"An inappropriate relationship" is what Clinton called it; a shameful disgrace to the office of President of the U.S. is what it is. THOMAS L. BRINSON New Bern, N.C.
I, like President Clinton, will do anything to avoid the prying eyes of self-righteous demons like Starr and his horde, who show such utter contempt for privacy. JOHN BROUWER Alliston, Ont.
Clinton and his lies have cost American taxpayers millions of dollars. It is not Starr who is responsible but the President through his sex-crazed actions. How can people defend this immoral man? Where has our morality gone? Following the President's, I guess. GERALD S. KUPKOWSKI Cheektowaga, N.Y. The President should have ended this long ago by not answering questions that no one had any business asking. If others are so quick to condemn Clinton for not being a saint, they should rightfully welcome intense public investigations into their own sex lives. If only perfect Americans who have never lied should be elected, then 99% of the politicians in office should resign at once. CAROLINE KIM Cleveland, Texas