President Clinton said yesterday that he would testify "completely and truthfully" about his relationship with Ms Monica Lewinsky later this month. He agreed earlier this week to give videotaped testimony to a grand jury on August 17th.
In his first public statement about the matter since Ms Lewinsky also agreed to testify to a grand jury in return for immunity from prosecution, Mr Clinton told reporters: "No one wants to get this matter behind us more than I do, except maybe the rest of the American people".
He went on: "I am looking forward to the opportunity in the next few days of testifying. I will do so completely and truthfully. I am anxious to do it. But I hope you can understand why in the interim I can and should have no further comment on these matters. Thank you very much."
The President then walked quickly from the Rose Garden where he had delivered an upbeat statement on the latest economic figures. He ignored questions shouted at him by reporters about whether he would make a public statement on Ms Monica Lewinsky as well as give testimony and whether he would allow a DNA test.
This last question was a reference to the fact that Ms Lewinsky has handed over a black cocktail dress to the Independent Counsel, Mr Kenneth Starr, which she allegedly claims has evidence of a physical relationship with Mr Clinton. The dress has now been sent to the FBI laboratory for tests of genetic material. The results of the tests could be known in the next 24 hours.
It would take several more days for DNA information to be obtained assuming there is genetic material on the dress.
If there proves to be such traces on the dress, Mr Clinton may be asked by Mr Starr to provide genetic samples to see if they match the DNA of those on the dress. These samples could be a hair, saliva or a blood sample.
The President could supply samples voluntarily or Mr Starr could subpoena him to supply them. If there is genetic material on the dress, Mr Starr will certainly want to establish if it can be matched to Mr Clinton as Ms Lewinsky has allegedly told her former colleague, Ms Linda Tripp and her mother, Ms Marcia Lewis.
Mr Lewinsky sent the dress to her mother earlier this year before FBI agents searched her apartment in the Washington Watergate complex and removed other dresses.
Mr Clinton appeared confident and business-like at the White House yesterday as he delivered his report on the booming economy. As he finished, the reporters began hurling questions about the Lewinsky investigation.
Mr Clinton, who knew that he would be bombarded with such questions, smilingly held up his hands as if to ward them off saying: "Wait, wait, wait. Everyone has questions. Let me give you an answer to all of them."
Then he made what was clearly a prepared statement about his willingness to testify.
The President later left for the fashionable Long Island resort called the Hamptons where he will attend Democratic Party fund raisers over the weekend including one at the home of the film director, Mr Stephen Spielberg.
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, preparations are going ahead for possible impeachment hearings if Mr Starr sends Congress a report with evidence of impeachable offences.
If he does not find such evidence he is not obliged to send any report.
If a report is sent, it will first be handled in secret hearings by the House Judiciary Committee chaired by the Republican Congressman, Mr Henry Hyde. Asked if evidence of perjury by the President would lead to impeachment, Mr Hyde refused to give a clear answer.
Saying that he could not answer that in the abstract, Mr Hyde pointed out that "to consider the impeachability of an act, any chain of acts, you have to look at them in context". But another Republican on the committee, Mr Charles Canady, said that perjury by the President would be an impeachable offence.
The President takes an oath to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed. "For the President to commit an act of perjury is entirely inconsistent with his constitutional obligation," Mr Canady said.