As a fresh crisis blows up for President Clinton over Ms Monica Lewinsky as a result of testimony given by his personal secretary, Mrs Betty Currie, he is sticking doggedly to his earlier denials of a sexual relationship or influencing anyone to lie.
In the President's first press conference since the Lewinsky story broke, he refused to answer questions about his relationship with Ms Lewinsky, claiming it would be against the rules of the investigation which is going on. Commentators argue that this is a self-imposed rule and that Mr Clinton can answer such questions.
Mr Clinton also expressed concern about the number of leaks coming from the investigation by the independent counsel Mr Kenneth Starr, which are damaging to the President. The White House press secretary has said the leaks are approaching the point where "it's beyond appalling and it's dangerous".
Later, President Clinton's personal lawyer, Mr David Kendall, said he would ask a federal court to hold Mr Starr in contempt of court for a pattern of leaks, which the lawyer said were designed to intimidate witnesses and smear people.
"We are going to court as soon as possible, which I hope will be Monday, seeking relief . . . against this leaking," he said.
Asked if he had ever considered resigning because of the strain on him and his family, President Clinton replied: "Never". He would "never walk away from the American people and the trust they have put in me".
According to a report in the New York Times, Mrs Currie has told investigators that President Clinton and Ms Lewinsky were sometimes alone in the White House, although he has denied this in a deposition he gave to lawyers of Ms Paula Jones.
It now emerges that the day after he gave six hours of testimony to Ms Jones's lawyers on January 17th, Mr Clinton called Mrs Currie into the White House and went over that part of his evidence dealing with his contacts with Ms Lewinsky.
According to White House records, she visited the White House 37 times since she stopped working there in April 1996 and was usually signed in by Mrs Currie.
Mrs Currie has reportedly told investigators that during her Sunday meeting with the President he told her he had never been alone with Ms Lewinsky and that he had resisted sexual advances from her.
The New York Times says that, according to lawyers, "Mrs Currie had recalled that the President characterised his relationship with Ms Lewinsky by asking a series of leading questions such as: `We were never alone, right?' " But Mrs Currie has told investigators that the President and Ms Lewinsky were sometimes alone, according to lawyers.
The White House has angrily denied that the President was "coaching" Mrs Currie on what she was to say when called before a grand jury.