For five months, the campaign proceeded without incident. Actually, it soared; Mario Cuomo refused to play and Clinton became the annointed frontrunner even before a single vote had been cast. But then in February, on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, it all came unglued. A former television newscaster and cabaret singer named Gennifer Flowers alleged a twelve-year affair with Clinton. The days that followed were hell. Flowers had tapes! They were doctored, it turned out, but Mark Twain's adage never seemed more apt: a lie is around the world before the truth gets out of bed. A statement was needed, Clinton aides said; or some surrogates could strike back. But Clinton knew that only he could defend himself and still survive. He chose "60 Minutes'' as his
