These ought to provide insight into near history. story
President Clinton knew they were being taped at the time, he's probably freaking a little bit because he can't remember everything. From the article:
(Sept. 21) — Taylor Branch, a historian best known for his books on the civil rights era, had a secret that he kept for years: 79 interviews — mostly late-night conversations at the White House — that he conducted with Bill Clinton over the course of his presidency.
The interviews are the basis for Branch's new book, 'The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History With the President,' which is to be published Sept. 29.
Now that the conversations are going public, Clinton has some misgivings about them, Branch said in an interview with USA Today.
"I think it's fair to say he's nervous," he said, explaining that Clinton has spent hours on the phone with him since he received page proofs of the book. While he wouldn't discuss Clinton's concerns, Branch said "I didn't change anything that he asked me to change."
But Branch could have omitted things - in any event, it's probably not nearly as bad as what's go on since Clinton left office and has been getting worse with Obama.