Washington was divided yesterday over the future of the President, Mr Bill Clinton, seven days after his confession of a sexual relationship with a former White House intern.
Mr Clinton's critics - including some former supporters - insisted his private character was a public issue, and continued to raise the spectre of impeachment on allegations that he lied under oath or encouraged Ms Monica Lewinsky to deny under oath that they had had an affair.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Mr Arlen Specter, (Pennsylvania, Republican) said Congress may have to impeach the president after the independent prosecutor, Mr Kenneth Starr, issues his report.
But on CBS Face the Nation, Mr John Conyers, a Democrat and member of the House's Judicial Committee, said calls for Mr Clinton's resignation - or impeachment - were "a little premature". But some influential Democrats have already passed judgement.
A former Democratic senator, Mr Sam Nunn, accused Mr Clinton of weakening the presidency in the Lewinsky affair. The talk of resignation and impeachment came as a new poll showed Mr Clinton's handling of the US economy and foreign policy continue to garner record high approval ratings.
But views on his personal qualities hit new lows, primarily due to the continuing Lewinsky scandal, according to a Washington Post ABC News poll.
The poll found Mr Clinton's overall job approval steady at 66 per cent, with a record three out of four Americans approving his economic policies and seven out of 10 praising his foreign policy.
But only 28 per cent said Mr Clinton was trustworthy and only 19 per cent believe he has high moral and ethical standards.
The Rev Jesse Jackson, who has acted as spiritual adviser to the president, said Mr Clinton's speech on August 7th should have shown more of the contrition that he felt.
"Within his own private quarters there is a contrition, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment, and he has talked with his family," Mr Jackson said.
The Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, denied feeling betrayed after being one of the president's most outspoken defender's after the Lewinsky story broke in January, and said the scandal did not hurt Mr Clinton's credibility with foreign leaders.