As one person close to Bill observed after the Lewinsky affair broke, âin deed and expression, you could see he was trying to do everything he could to make it up to Hillary ⌠Whatever Hillary wants, Hillary gets.â She, in turn, had something to give. Her forbearance and love permitted him to survive, even to âcome back.â No one else could rescue him as she could. No one else could make right what was wrong. The exchange even worked romantically. When she was in charge of defending him, they were a team once more, affectionate with each other, sensitive to each otherâs feelings. âIt was hand-holding,â one of the White House lawyers said, âarms around one another, lots of eye contact.â In some respects, their partnership achieved a new intimacy and camaraderie when she stood by him in the face of his misbehavior. Thus, in the strangest of ways, Clintonâs reckless sexual behavior actually enhanced their personal ties. It made their relationship more functional and productive. Arguablyâand in the strangest irony of allâit was at the heart of their partnership, the centerpiece that made it work.
