Epstein Secrets

," the senior official said. "I would guess that President Clinton views that as a compliment." Spiegel Was Yasser

n "Game Change," their account of the 2008 race. "He thought that Obama might actually believe that Reagan's tenure had been superior to his own." Bill Clinton's attacks hurt Hillary as much as they did Obama. The Times denounced Clinton's fairy-tale comment as a "bizarre and rambling attack" and as exemplif

More than anyone, he pushed Hillary to take the job of Secretary of State. "President Clinton was a big supporter of the idea," an intimate of the Clintons told me. "He advocated very strongly for it and arguably was the tie-breaking reason she took the job." For one thing, having his spouse in that po

ense secretary by telling Iraq to "damn it, make a decision" on America's troop presence -- one of the most influential of Washington insiders. 3. Denis McDonough is both gatekeeper and confidant for President Obama when it comes to foreign policy. The former football safety at Saint John's University in Min

mething about the border' -- The 199os saw an influx of illegal immigrants, which created tension among Americans and at the Mexican border. But the Clinton administration's response fell short in many ways, especially when it came to security. PART 3: `How are we going to secure this country?' -- Septe

ndsey Graham of South Carolina, Bob Corker of Tennessee and Johnny Isakson of Georgia. They've been meeting frequently with White House staff chief Denis McDonough and other top Obama aides seeking ways to replace deep, non-discretionary automatic cuts known as sequestration with gentler, more targeted cuts. G

n the 3,000 to 5,000 desired by the military and the full 30,000 wished for by Biden. She also might seek a compromise on the withdrawal timetable. Clinton wants to push ahead on the negotiating front as well, though with a special twist. She wouldn't talk solely with the Taliban leadership; rather, sh

es, the projected withdrawal total and end dates could change somewhat. No one, not even Obama's most intimate national-security aides—Tom Donilon, Denis McDonough, and Ben Rhodes—can be certain of their boss' final calculations, but key officials feel confident that the president's secret thinking will gener