Subject: Clinton Says Hubbell Paid A 'High Price'

President Bill Clinton today was asked his reaction to former Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell acknowledging that he lied to the Clintons about what he had done. Clinton said, "I'm not mad at him anymore because he paid a very high price for the mistake he made ... He apologized and I accepted the apology."

The president said Hubbell has a fine family and has done some good things in his life and that he hopes he'll be able to go on with his life. Hubbell resigned from the administration and pleaded guilty to stealing money from former clients and partners at the Rose Law Firm.

Hillary Rodham Clinton today denied anyone in the administration tried to silence Hubbell from talking about the Clintons and the Whitewater investigation by helping to find him new work. Mrs. Clinton compared the interest in Whitewater to "some people's obsession with UFO's and the Hale-Bopp comet."

When told of his wife's comments, the president burst into laughter and said he would never disagree with her in public.

"Did she say that?" Clinton said. "That's pretty good."