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President Clinton held his first solo news conference of the year. The NewsHour has excerpts.

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JIM LEHRER: President Clinton took questions for almost an hour at his news conference this afternoon. Here are some extended excerpts.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Helen, you get the first question.

HELEN THOMAS, UPI: You may not like it. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT CLINTON: I never expected to. (Laughter.)

HELEN THOMAS: Mr. President, in view of a new court ruling, Monica Lewinsky may have to appear before a grand jury. Under the circumstances, do you stand by your previous denials of any relationship with her or that anyone encouraged her to lie? And while I have the floor, do you think that the special prosecutor has gone beyond the call and is out to get you?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I think modestly observant people are fully capable of drawing their own conclusions to the latter question. And as to the former question, I have answered it repeatedly and have nothing to add to my former answer. I have repeatedly said what the answer to that question is.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN: Mr. President, I hate to beat a dead horse, but let me just follow that up with --

PRESIDENT CLINTON: No, you don't. (Laughter.)

WOLF BLITZER: Ken Starr supporters make the case that he could be wrapping up his investigation, except for the delaying tactics put forward by your lawyers, your aides--specifically, the privilege assertions, denying the Secret Service the right to testify, denying some of your aides the right to testify, denying the First Lady the right to answer certain questions because of these privileged questions. And a lot of Americans are having a hard time understanding--why assert privilege if there's nothing to hide?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: First of all, you've asked three questions; let me deal with them. On the First Lady's testimony, Mr. Kendall's response blows what they said out of the water better than anything I could say, and amounts to a "shame on them" for saying that. Secondly, with regard to the Secret Service, I literally have had no involvement in that decision whatever. That is a decision that they have made based on what they believe--the position they've taken is a position they've taken based on what they believe is best for the institution of the presidency. And the court will just have to evaluate their arguments and make a judgement. Now, thirdly, on the claims of executive privilege, I cannot comment on those matters because they are under seal. However, as you know, we have suggested to the court that the pleadings and the briefs be made public, be open to public inspection, so that you and the American people could evaluate the specific executive privilege issues and whether you believe they're valid or not. But I can't talk about them. You know, our side has tried to honor all these court orders and I want to continue to honor it. We've asked--it's under seal, I can't discuss it. But I will do my best to deal with this in an appropriate way. And if the court changes the rules, I hope that we'll be able to release the pleadings and the briefs so that all of you can see what this is about and draw your own conclusions and then ask questions about it. Claire.

CLAIRE SHIPMAN, NBC News: Mr. President, whatever you may think about all of these ongoing investigations of your administration, they certainly have pulled in a lot of your friends and employees and acquaintances, people who have had to appear before the grand jury. A number of times, a lot of people--like Betty Currie, for example, who built up large legal fees. And I wonder, do you feel in any way personally responsible? And do you still intend, as you mentioned in 1996 in an interview, once you're out of office to help out with those legal fees?

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Yes, if I can figure out a way to do it, I will. I feel terrible about--there are all these people who have been hauled through this, who under the governing statute, can never get their legal bills reimbursed--so that you have--the independent counsel not only has an unlimited budget and can go on forever--10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years, spend $40 million today, $100 million tomorrow--they can--they can take--you're laughing--but we still have one from the mid-'80s in effect and--although it's not active. But in this case, you know, we had this Resolution Trust Corporation report two years ago, which exhaustively reviewed every issue relevant to Whitewater. And it didn't have any effect as this thing just went on and on and on. So more and more people get called in, and they spend money they don't have for legal fees that they can't afford. And they're never targets of investigation; therefore, they're not subject to any reimbursement. And I feel terrible about it. And if I can think of something to do about it, I will. Ken.

CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Are you responsible for that at all, yourself? I mean, is that a personal--

PRESIDENT CLINTON: No. If there's one person in the world I'm not responsible for, it's Mr. Starr. I think all of you would admit that--and his behavior and what he and Mr. Ewing and the others have decided to do. I don't think--I don't think there's any American who believes I'm responsible for them. Peter.

PETER MAER, NBC/Mutual Radio: Mr. President, aside from the legal questions that you face both here and in the courts, Republicans have been notching up questions about your moral authority. How important is moral authority to you as you deal with questions like tobacco and drugs? What effect do you think this whole wave of controversies has had on your moral authority? And what kind of moral authority do you think the Republican critics have? (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, let me say, if I were to answer them in kind, I might be able to damage their reputation, which they might be able to do to me, but I could have no effect on their character, just as they can have none on mine. And, therefore, I think if I were to answer them in kind, it would be a more a reflection on my character than on their reputation. I believe that it's very important for the President to be able to stand up for the values of the American people collectively, and for communities, and for families, and for individuals. And I think this administration has a good record, and I believe I have a good record of standing up for the things that will help up to raise our children stronger, and keep our families stronger, and make our country stronger. At least I have done my best. These things are distracting, and we live in a time where they are more prominent than they have been at most times in our country's history, although, not at all times. And I deal with them the very best I can. But I do not think the right thing for me to do is to respond in kind. The right thing for me to do is to let others defend me as best they can and to go on and worry about the American people. Go ahead.

MIMI HALL, USA Today: House Speaker Gingrich is making it increasingly clear that unless there's some more cooperation, some more forthcoming on your administration's part, that your agenda on the Hill is going to be stalled. I wonder if there comes a point where you feel it's your responsibility to provide some more cooperation so that some work can get done for the American people.

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Oh, I don't think anyone really seriously believes that's what the last three or four days have been about. They've been about politics. And I'm not going to let--I can be responsible for a lot of things, but I'm not responsible for the Speaker's behavior. Neither, however, will I respond to it. Nothing he says about me personally--nothing--will keep me from working with him and with other Republicans in the Congress to do everything I possibly can on every issue before us. There is nothing that he can say about me for whatever reason that will affect my willingness to sit down with him and others and work for the benefit of this country. So it's not going to get in my way. It is simply not. I am not going to permit it to happen. Now, I will tell you this--the only think he said recently that really bothered me was when he said that he thought that tobacco advertising basically had no impact on whether children decided to smoke or not. I simply disagree with that. I think there are other reasons, but I think that was wrong. And that's something that affects other people's lives. That's not Washington politics. But, you know, whatever people say, let them go. I mean, I've got to do my job. And I will still welcome them to the White House, and we will do our job for the American people because that's what I'm supposed to do.

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