PRESIDENT Clinton has given his first TV interview since reelection to the man who described him on election night as a "bore" who made speeches "full of god dam nonsense" and whose victory speech was "one of the worst things I've ever heard".
But first the President graciously accepted an apology from prestigious TV commentator David Brinkley, who yesterday morning presented his last The Week current affairs programme.
Mr Brinkley (76) prefaced the interview with Mr Clinton by saying that his references to the President after seven hours on the set of ABC's election night coverage was "impolite and unfair and I'm sorry. I regret it."
Mr Clinton accepting the apology said that he himself had "said a lot of things late at night when I was tired". Saying that Mr Brinkley had "really been through a rough day" the President commented that "I judge people on their whole work and if you get judged on your whole work, you come out well ahead."
Mr Clinton then added jokingly that Vice President Gore "was very happy when you said I was boring". This was a reference to Mr Gore's own image as a stiff and often boring speaker.
The President said he would now be able to use Mr Brinkley's apology against Mr Gore. "That will be my ultimate defence."
Following Mr Brinkley's outburst live on the ABC set on election night, White House spokespersons had indicated that the interview he had been promised with the President for his farewell Sunday programme was in doubt. A decision would be made after the President's attention had been drawn to the remarks.
Later, the White House spokesman, Mr Mike McCurry, said "I think we're going to find time for one of America's most venerable journalists . . . we're not rising up in indignation; it was 1.30 in the morning and he said some things he needn't have said".
Mr Brinkley had made what Mr McCurry called a "gracious call" to the chief of staff of the White House, Mr Leon Panetta. "It was the right thing to do," Mr McCurry said, implying that it had helped to soothe any ruffled feelings.
Mr Brinkley in an interview said "I didn't really mean to say `a bore' but I did say it". He said he was talking about the fact that now that Mr Clinton was elected to a second term, "he will never again have to be nice to someone he despises because he wants something from them - money, support or something, and he'll not have to eat chicken on a paper plate again, which you have to do when you're running for President".
Following Mr Brinkley's comments about Mr Clinton on election night, ABC was flooded with calls from viewers to complain about or praise the criticism. ABC would not give a breakdown of the calls. A spokeswoman said that some calls had praised Mr Brinkley's forthrightness and others had criticised him as "disrespectful".
Mr Brinkley's interview with President Clinton was taped in the White House on Friday after his first press conference.