My thirty year career as an investigative reporter was filled with insecurities. That’s why I bragged so much about all my journalism awards. As CNN’s Senior Investigative Correspondent for ten years, my Tuscaloosa, Alabama High School diploma could not match the Ivy League degrees of several colleagues in our Special Assignment muckraking unit. So I tried to fake some semblance of intelligence—a ploy I developed as a barroom bullshit artist. The talent is essential for investigative reporters trying to pry secrets from sources, or challenge experts in their field of endeavor.

Because of an underlying lack of confidence, I still relish instances in which my often discredited, contrarian conclusions are re-enforced by people better educated and smarter than me. The eyes folks glaze at the mention of the long ago bogus scandal called “Whitewater,” which I believe altered the course of history. The partisan witch-hunt fueled by the irresponsibility of the mainstream media was pivotal in creating the congressional gridlock that exists a quarter of a century later.

In writing my book, Odyssey of a Derelict Gunslinger, I wavered back and forth about making the Whitewater debacle the first chapter. Other writers—most notably political pundits Gene Lyons and Joe Conason—had written books about Whitewater abuses its lasting effect on the country. But to my knowledge, I was the only television reporter in the early stages of the farce,  to put it in proper context. My thirty-minute CNN segment in early 1994 was Emmy nominated. Brag, brag.

Anyway, a recently published book titled, Death of American Virtue, tends to support my belief that the word, ”Whitewater,” would now be used only to describe river rafting were it not for Kenneth Starr and his porno-obsessed minions. Duquense University law professor Ken Gormley has conducted an extensive investigation, interviewing many of the key characters involved in the charade, including Bill Clinton and his paramours—Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky. Starr, who earlier this week was selected as President of Baylor University, was also interviewed along with judges responsible for appointing him as Whitewater Independent Counsel to replace former New York U.S. Attorney, Robert Fiske. 

Professor Gormley’s research supports my contention that Fiske would have completed the investigation long before anyone heard of Monica Lewinksy, Paula Jones and Bill Clinton’s alleged crooked penis. Nor would there have been an impeachment that brought Congress to a standstill while it wrestled with the question, “Is blowjob one word, two words or hyphenated?” And “Yes,” readers of Derelict Gunslinger, I’m plagiarizing my own crude wit. 

More to the point, Ken Starr extended the costly probe of a meaningless land development on the White River in an effort to inflict as much political damage as possible to the Clinton Administration. Does it matter now? That depends on one’s politics. For folks who classify George W. Bush a great President, Whitewater was godsend. The investigation is responsible for his election. If Al Gore had settled in the White House, God only knows where the country would be today. But I have a hunch it might be in a helluva lot better condition.

Unfortunately, my Tuscaloosa High School civics class did not train me to be a political pundit. I can only rely on facts. Professor Gormley’s book suggests that my interpretation facts is correct. And that is certainly reassuring for an insecure, under-educated, ex-drunk.