As President Clinton had subdued 52nd birthday celebrations in a compound on Martha's Vineyard, Ms Monica Lewinsky prepared for a second session before the grand jury today.
Ms Lewinsky has been recalled by the Independent Counsel, Mr Kenneth Starr, to answer more questions about her sexual relationship with the President in the White House. Mr Starr will ask about "serious discrepancies" which have emerged between her version and that of Mr Clinton, obtained at his testimony on Monday, according to CNN reports.
Various accounts of Mr Clinton's testimony, which lasted over five hours with some breaks, are being leaked.
The New York Times reports that the questioning at times turned "confrontational" and that the President reacted angrily to some of the questions. Mr Starr even threatened to subpoena the President to make him answer.
At one stage the questioning had to be suspended for an hour while the President conferred with lawyers in the nearby doctor's office. This raised concern at first that he might have fallen ill, the newspaper says.
It is also reported that the Starr team questioned the President about gifts he gave to Ms Lewinsky which were later taken back, and about her blue dress which has been examined by the FBI laboratory for genetic traces.
Mr Dick Morris, a former political adviser to the President, has testified to conversations he had with Mr Clinton in the early days when the Lewinsky affair broke in the media. Following his grand jury appearance on Tuesday, Mr Morris told Fox TV that the President told him: "I've tried to avoid this kind of thing since I took office, but I just slipped up with that girl. I mean the charges are untrue. I didn't do what they said I did, but I did do something."
While opinion polls are showing overwhelming support for Mr Clinton remaining in office after his admission of "an inappropriate relationship" with Ms Lewin sky, there is also increasing disillusionment with his behaviour.
About 70 per cent are opposed to impeachment or a forced resignation. Asked if they think Mr Clinton is "honest and trustworthy enough to be President", 52 per cent said yes and 42 per cent said no. Only 29 per cent in a CNN/Gallup poll believe he was "completely open and honest about the Lewinsky matter" on Monday night. Some 61 per cent agreed he "told the truth on some matters, but tried to mislead the public on other matters".
Mr Clinton's situation is seen as still precarious as his 4 1/2-minute address is examined further by the media and politicians. His criticism of Mr Starr is seen as a blunder and as going against the ad vice of his political aides, who wanted a more conciliatory tone.
The attack on Mr Starr has aroused anger among Republicans such as the influential Senator Orrin Hatch. He had urged the President to make a full confession as a way of avoiding impeachment proceedings by Congress.
Mr Hatch, who is chairman of the judiciary committee, was overheard saying, "Wasn't that pathetic? I tell you, what a jerk," after listening to the presidential address.
The New York Times and the Washington Post, both liberal newspapers which support the Democrats at election time, have published blistering editorials about his speech.
Under the heading "Betrayal and Embarrassment", the Times editorial says: "The cursory speech he made before departing on vacation probably did him more harm than good. That is also why there is a tidal feeling of betrayal and embarrassment running across the country today."
Under the heading "Mea not so Culpa" the Post says Mr Clinton passed up the chance to tell the unvarnished truth "in favour of still another attempt at manipulation - a mostly mock confession in which he made a show of taking responsibility that in fact he once again sought to dodge".
AFP adds: President Clinton rejected calls for his resignation over the White House intern scandal yesterday from members of both parties, who charged he lied under oath and declared his political agenda dead. White House spokesman Mr Mike McCurry said Mr Clinton has not even considered stepping down. Meanwhile, CNN is reporting that Mr Clinton has been asked to give a DNA sample to Mr Star.
The FBI has been testing a dress of Ms Lewinsky which she handed over to prosecutors. Citing unnamed sources, CNN said the president had been asked about the dress during his testimony.