Deluge of documents, snapshots and gifts joins flood of revelation

Private letters, lists of gifts, photographs, official texts and confidential notes were among the thousands of pages of documents…

Private letters, lists of gifts, photographs, official texts and confidential notes were among the thousands of pages of documents released yesterday with the videotape of President Clinton's grand jury testimony.

The documents, totalling 3,183 pages in two thick volumes, contained 220 pages devoted to the full transcript of Mr Clinton's August 17th testimony, the videotape of which was broadcast yesterday. The rest of the documents were a catch-all conglomeration of files, statements, diagrams and photographs relating to all aspects of the affair.

Among the papers was the now-notorious definition of sexual relations used by lawyers for Ms Paula Jones in their interrogation of President Clinton about the nature of his relations with the former Arkansas state employee.

Transcripts of Ms Monica Lewinsky's testimony before the grand jury on August 6th and August 20th, as well as her deposition to independent counsel Mr Kenneth Starr on August 26th, are also included among the documents.

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Ms Lewinsky's personal correspondence was combed through with great thoroughness in the annexes, from photographs of her email message traffic with friends to rough drafts of letters to Mr Clinton, cover letters to potential employers, and notes that Ms Lewinsky passed to the President's secretary, Ms Betty Currie.

In one document, Ms Lewinsky complained of receiving no word from Mr Clinton and declares: "I would never do anything to hurt him."

Gifts exchanged between Mr Clinton and Ms Lewinsky were treated extensively, with the annexes including a copy of an official court order that the gifts be remitted to the grand jury.

Also included were numerous official reports from the FBI concerning the famous dress stained by the President's sperm.

Another report described the drawing of the President's blood at the White House for the genetic tests required by Mr Kenneth Starr. A third report declares "a reasonable degree of scientific certainty" that genetic elements in the dress stain and in the President's blood came from the same person.

The annexes also contained official court papers specifying quotes from close aides to the President, letters from his lawyers, itineraries of Mr Clinton's whereabouts, and the dates and exact times of Ms Lewinsky's entries to and exits from the White House.

Excerpts were included from joint press conferences given by Mr Clinton with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and with the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, which took place around the time that key parts of the Lewinsky story hit the news.

Also included were press reports on the affair and numerous photographs of the White House's Oval Office, some showing only Ms Lewinsky and Mr Clinton and others showing groups of people. One photograph of the President bears the inscription: "To Monica. Thanks for the nice tie. Bill Clinton."

A photograph of the famous tie also figures among the weighty annexes.