Sex Scandalicious: Clinton

One of the most scandalous Presidents was Bill Clinton, the 42^nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 (Lawrence, Regina G., and W. Lance Bennett, 58-65). His sex scandal involved a white house intern, Monica Lewinsky, who will forever haunt Clinton’s Presidency. No one could hear his name and not think of Monica Lewinsky and their private encounters in the Oval Office. Once the information of these two got out, damage control was in dire need. Clinton's public relation's team quickly attacked the "rumors" by issuing a denial.

It Wasn't Me!


After Clinton's denial, evidence from White House officials and Monica Lewinsky's dress signified otherwise. Clinton's public relations team realized quickly that they needed to do damage control and fast. The only resort after denial was an apology.

But It Must've...Getting Caught:


Bill Clinton's well-worded and sincere public apology made the citizens connect with him on a more personal level and understand that he is also an American citizen like themselves, whom also makes mistakes. There was multiple convergence of media of Clinton’s apology about Monica Lewinksy because the circulation of the news hit the phones, entertainment websites, and radios within minutes of its release. By effectively relating to his audience with his strategic apology, Clinton was able to gain back his supporters with media’s fast-paced information spread.

Apology:



Despite Clinton’s highest end-of-office approval rating of any U.S. president since World War II, most of the nation remembered Clinton as the cheating husband that got away with it (ABC news poll). With the changing culture of today’s citizens, they all found him to be the “big man on campus” for having two women at the same time, not getting fully impeached, and still keeping his family intact. But how did he survive one of the most immoral and embarrassing schemes in Presidential history? The answer is: he had one great public relations team working for him.

Bill Clinton’s sex scandal demonstrates the much needed effects of the public relations industry more than the past because the emergence of more technological advances allows the public to get any and all information. With the fast spread of scandals of powerful and influential figures such as the United States President, it is now, more than ever, important to effectively do “damage control” quickly and efficiently to keep the public safe and content.