The Monica Lewinsky affair surfaced briefly as the battle for the Democratic nomination for next year's US presidential election opened between Vice-President Al Gore and the former senator Mr Bill Bradley.
In what was billed as a "town meeting" the two men answered questions for 90 minutes from an audience in Hanover noted for its prestigious Dartmouth College. Student supporters for both candidates chanted slogans and held up banners in the street outside in freezing temperatures, while many of the local people preferred to watch the final match in the baseball world series in warm restaurants.
Mr Gore was asked early on about "cynicism about politics" among the public and "the behaviour of some members of your administration". Although the questioner did not mention President Clinton by name, or Ms Lewinsky, the vice-president seemed eager to clear the air immediately on this subject, which is said to have led to "Clinton fatigue" among voters.
"I understand the disappointment and anger you feel towards President Clinton and I felt it myself," Mr Gore replied. But "the president is my friend. I took an oath under the constitution to serve my country through thick and thin. And I interpreted that oath to mean that I should try and provide as much continuity and stability as I possibly could".
Having got that awkward question out of the way, Mr Gore turned in a professional and, for him, relaxed performance while criticising his opponent about the costs of his proposal to extend health insurance to all Americans.
Mr Bradley, who left the Senate three years ago to prepare for his presidential run, seemed content to present himself as a man of vision and big ideas. He even refused an easy opportunity to highlight abuses in Mr Gore's 1996 campaign, which included fund-raising in a Buddhist convent in California.
Education and health care were the main subjects which interested the selected audience of about 400 in the theatre of the local arts centre. The two candidates sat on stools on a stage or walked about with wireless microphones.
Both candidates were in agreement on issues such as the need to ratify the nuclear test ban treaty, which the Republican-controlled Senate recently rejected; legal recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships and campaign finance reform.
In the lead-up to the New Hampshire primary on February 1st the two men will hold six debates but in a head-to-head format and not with questions from a large audience.
Last night it was the turn of the contenders for the Republican nomination to present themselves in Hanover. But the event was something of an anti-climax without the presence of Gov George Bush of Texas, who is far ahead in the opinion polls.
Mr Bush excused his absence by saying he wanted to attend a ceremony in Texas where his wife, Laura, was receiving an award. This left the debate to Sen John McCain; the millionaire publisher Mr Steve Forbes; a religious conservative Mr Gary Bauer; Sen Orrin Hatch; and the TV commentator Alan Keyes.