After having had denied it to the public in a memorable statement on 26th January ('I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky') Clinton came clean on this day with a dramatic television address to the nation, following a day of testimony to the grand jury.

"Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong."

It was one of the highlights of an investigation by Kenneth Star, an independent prosecutor, who had started his investigations 4 years earlier following allegations of improprieties over the president and his wife, Hilary's, land dealings in Arkansas.

The claim under the spotlight with Lewinsky was that Clinton had lied under oath about an affair with Lewinsky in statements made in a sexual harassment case brought by Paula Jones, in 1994.

"I misled people, including my wife. I deeply regret that."

Lewinsky claimed to have had an 18 month affair with the president, and had even kept one of her dresses with Clinton's semen stains on it.

"This matter is between me, the two people I love most - my wife and my daughter - and our God."

Clinton faced impeachment proceedings for his actions, but the impeachment could not pass the required majority in the Senate.