After months of refusing to testify, President Clinton has suddenly agreed to give his version of the Monica Lewinsky affair to a grand jury on August 17th. This will mean shortening his annual holiday by several days.
The agreement followed a subpoena from independent counsel, Mr Kenneth Starr, to the President calling for his testimony this week and intensive negotiations between lawyers for both sides.
Mr Clinton had pleaded his busy schedule and had asked to have his testimony postponed until after his visit to Russia and Ireland in early September. He also said he did not want to give his testimony in the federal courthouse like other witnesses.
Judge Norma Holloway Johnson, who oversees the grand jury, apparently told the President's lawyer, Mr David Kendall, that Mr Clinton could not delay until September. However, he could give his testimony by videotape in the White House and be accompanied by his lawyer, unlike other witnesses who are not allowed to have their lawyers in the courtroom when questioned.
Following the agreement, Mr Starr withdrew the subpoena so that the President can say he will testify "voluntarily", as Mr Kendall put it.
Mr Clinton will still be the first President to give testimony personally to a grand jury in a criminal investigation. He had intended to begin two weeks' holiday in Martha's Vineyard, off the Massachusetts coast, on August 15th. After his holiday, he will leave for Russia and Ireland, returning to Washington on September 7th.
Meanwhile, various media have reported that Ms Lewinsky will testify about discussions with Mr Clinton about how they would keep their alleged affair secret. She has been given full immunity for her testimony, which will include her claim that she had sexual relations with the President.
She will reportedly testify that the President advised her to deny the affair but not to commit perjury. She will describe how he told her to get rid of presents he gave her and told her to say that she was visiting his personal secretary, Ms Betty Currie, to explain her frequent visits to the White House.