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NEW YORK: "Good evening. I’m
Charles Gibson, reporting from ABC News. Tonight is a special
night for our TV viewing audience. In an exclusive interview
earlier today, Connie Chung spoke with Congressman Gary Condit.
For many months, questions have been raised regarding the
Congressman’s relationship with Chandra Levy, who has been
missing since April 30. During the ongoing police investigation,
Rep. Condit’s character has come under scrutiny, and he has
not been forthcoming, until now. Tonight, you will hear Connie’s
personal exchange with Gary Condit, as he finally breaks his
silence. And now, we will turn it over to Connie Chung."
Congressman Condit, first, let me thank you for taking the
time to be with us this evening.
Silence.
Congressman Condit? Hello?
Are you talking to me? Sorry. For a moment there, I forgot
who I was. Who I am.
Sir, are you prepared for this interview? We only have thirty
minutes.
Sure. Take it away, Connie. By the way, did I get that right?
Is Connie your real name?
Excuse me? Congressman, what are you…
Never mind. I thought you were someone else.
Um…perhaps we should do this interview another time?
No. Please. Go ahead. My mind wanders these days. Sorry,
Bonnie.
That’s Connie.
Right. Connie with a C. I’ll remember.
Sir, are you sure you’re feeling all right?
Yep. Interview away.
What took you so long to return our calls?
I’ve been preparing my response for the American People.
For ten weeks?
No. Since this morning. Someone named Bill Clinton came to my
office and taught me how to bite my lower lip without making it
bleed.
Someone named Bill Clinton?
Well, yeah. President Bill Clinton. The guy who always bit
his lip.
Yes. Of course. You had me scared for a moment, there,
Congressman.
Sorry.
Moving along, can you tell ABC News and our viewers, did you
ever have an affair with Chandra Levy?
Who?
Chandra. Chandra Levy.
That name, it sounds so famil…I’m not sure. I can’t
recall.
Are you telling ABC’s audience and all of America tonight
that you can’t remember whether you had an affair with Chandra
Levy?
All I can remember is that I’ve been married for 34 years
and I’m not a perfect husband. I’ve made some mistakes, and
out of respect for the privacy of someone else’s family and my
own family, I won’t go into details at this time.
What do you know about Chandra Levy’s disappearance?
You don’t think I had anything to do with that, do you?
Well, no…I…
Then why ask?
Well, the entire country is asking, sir.
Right. I don’t know anything about it. That is, I don’t
remember that, either.
I see. So what you really mean to say is, you had nothing to
do with Chandra’s disappearance, is that correct, sir? Are you
being truthful?
All I remember is, I’ve been married for 28 years, and I’m
not a perfect husband…
You already said that. And it’s 34 not 28.
Thanks for reminding me.
No problem. Congressman, if you did nothing wrong, why can’t
you tell us if you and Chandra had an affair? Here’s your
chance to come clean.
You’re right. The truth is, I did not know the young woman
was missing until this morning, when some guy who calls himself
Bill Clinton told me. Then, my doctor showed me the story in the
newspapers.
Your doctor? Sir, should we cancel this interview? Are you
not well?
I’m fine now. I just didn’t know about this young woman
Chandra until today.
ABC News was informed that you would take the opportunity and
use this venue to break the silence and admit what happened with
you and Chandra. Our viewers want answers. Chandra’s been gone
for almost four months.
I don’t know what happened. I’ve been gone, too.
You mean, you left Washington during part of this time?
I showed up for a vote now and then, and the DNC tells me
what to do. But my mind is gone. It’s elsewhere.
Aha! You mean, you’re preoccupied with someone else. Like
one of your many lady friends! Anne Marie, perhaps?
No, it’s not that at all. My mind is not functioning
anymore. You see, I had a bad accident. I was diagnosed with
amnesia.
WHAT!? Amnesia? When did this happen?
Six months ago.
You’re telling the truth about this, sir?
As far as I can remember, I’m not lying, Bonnie.
My name is Connie. Bonnie is the lady who penned this
piece!
Sorry.
Why wasn’t ABC News told about this breaking report before
you came on tonight?
Because I forgot to tell them.
Then why didn’t you tell me?
I couldn’t recall that I didn’t remember earlier.
Why did you bother coming to ABC studios at all?
I read in the papers and heard on the radio that I was
supposed to show up for some interview.
Now you’re here, and the people are listening. Will you
admit whether or not you had an affair with Chandra Levy? A
simple yes or no will do.
Connie, the only thing I remember is what my doctor told me.
Which is that I’ve been married for 19 years and that I’m
not a perfect husband, I’ve made mistakes…
We already know that. You don’t recall what occurred on
April 30?
Let’s see, I know that on the 31st of April, I
had my second CAT scan, and an MRI…
Congressman, April has only 30 days. You’ve been married 34
years.
Right. Actually, I don’t even remember the month of April.
Or May. All I know is what my doctor and lawyer tell me.
Sir, could that be the reason why you arrived so late to our
studio?
Yeah, for a moment, I got lost. I wasn’t sure if I was even
Gary Condit. Someone named Bill Clinton told me I was. Am.
Oh.
It’s like this. It happened back in March. There was a
scantily clad woman in my bedroom who somehow broke in. I don’t
know how she got there. Claimed she was a stewardess. I don’t
know why she only had her bra on, but that’s the way it is.
Go on…
Anyway, I was in my apartment and had an accident. This
scantily clad woman evidently called the ambulance and I was
taken in secret to the Bethesda hospital and presumably
admitted.
Presumably? Not absolutely? Not definitively and truthfully?
I can’t be absolutely certain about anything. My memory was
gone by then.
This is getting very interesting…what happened once you
were presumably hospitalized?
Several days later, I was briefed about what happened on the
evening the scantily clad woman broke into my place. Somehow,
while unzipping my pants, I slipped on an issue of Playboy. Of
course, I don’t know why my fly was open, or how a pair of
stray panties got into my apartment. In fact, I have no memory
of the accident.
What do you remember?
The only thing that comes to mind is that I’ve been married
for 11 years and am not a perfect…
We’ve been there, Congressman and it’s 34…!
Thanks for the update, Ronnie.
Connie.
Sorry. Anyway, I was informed that after viewing some photos
in an issue of Playboy I was just totally knocked out. I
developed anterograde and retrograde amnesia.
Explain what that is, please?
I have no memory of anything that happened before or after
the trauma. I have both cases of amnesia at the same time.
Usually, a person has one or the other.
Now, hold on, Congressman…ABC News was informed you were
planning to tell the American People you’re sorry for your
evasive actions.
And I am. Sorry I seem evasive when I forget. Sorry I’ve
been getting such bad press just because I have two left feet
and one lousy memory. I’m a nice guy.
But you must remember something. Didn’t the cops search
your apartment?
I didn’t know about that. I was in seclusion in Bethesda,
recovering.
You were told about the search!
They said they were looking for some hot jewelry.
Why would the D.C. police and the feds make up a story like
that?
Psychiatrists were afraid that if I suddenly got my memory
back and recalled the details of this young missing woman…
…Chandra!
…If you say so…I would crack and my memory might never
return. They didn’t want to risk that, so I was spared the
details. That’s why the only thing I remember is that I’ve
been married for 7 years, am not a perfect husband, and some
such nonsense.
But you are aware now that you were grilled by the police?
Only because we’re discussing it. Once I leave here, I won’t
remember the police, either.
Is that why you never took an FBI polygraph test?
Sure. How can I be lying if I can’t remember ever telling
the truth?
Is it fair to say that if you don’t remember anything, you
may have had an affair and forgotten?
Could be. Can’t say. To my recollection, no young woman
ever came to my apartment. In fact, I don’t even remember a
girl named…er…named…ah…
Chandra Levy.
Is that her name?
She was an intern at the Bureau of Prisons. Don’t you
remember?
The only intern I recall was this one very pretty young lady
at the hospital…just out of medical school, too…and she
worked me over, all right…
NO, NO! Chandra was an intern in Washington.
There was no intern in Washington. Only in Bethesda.
Gary…
Look, I’ve been informed that I have a right to my privacy,
and that other people have their privacy rights, too. The only
thing I remember is that I’ve been married for 2 years…
Congressman, do you remember you represent the Modesto
district of California?
No, because I was told I’m here to represent myself.
Do you remember your wife?
I forgot about her years ago.
Do you remember your lawyer Abbe Lowell?
Only when he sends me a bill. Once I see the fee, I forget
about him, too.
Do you really believe this story you’re making up,
Congressman Condit?
I think so. Somebody named Bill Clinton believed he never had
sex with somebody named Monica. And I never heard of either of
them. Isn’t that proof enough?
Will your constituents accept your explanation?
I don’t remember what a constituent is, but if they’re
mine, I hope not.
Congressman, just answer one question. Do you know where
Chandra Levy is?
No. Only what I read in the newspapers. This morning I read
that she is missing.
For the last time: Did you have an affair with her?
What’s an affair?
Is there anything you can recall?
The only thing I remember is that I’ve never been married.
I’m single, a non-smoker, enjoy long walks in the park and
romantic evenings at home. Seeking a tall dominatrix, under 25,
slim, who loves animals, is not pretentious and is not into
money. Sense of humor a must. Playboy centerfold look-alikes get
quick reply…
And that’s our interview, folks.
…I’m not a perfect man, I’ve made mistakes, those
chicks knock me out…
Please tune in next week…
By the way, will you come back with me to my place, Bonnie?
It’s CONNIE! Bonnie is the writer who penned this piece!
That means I’m not lying. I’m just a figment of a writer’s
imagination. By the way, this interview lasted 34 minutes, not
10 minutes like you said.
EEEEK!!! Get me outta here!
You’re sweet. I like you, Ronnie…
Yeah, well forget it.
Consider it done.
For all of us here at ABC News, this is Connie Chung, until
next time. Good night!
You mean, next time you’ll be somebody else? Gee, I hope
not. I always want to remember you…
THE END
The author of this piece thinks her name is Bonnie, although
it may be Ronnie or perhaps even Connie and right now she’s
confused and is not sure if she can remember whether she wrote
this piece or not. Please don’t inundate her with e-mails
asking whether this interview occurred. As far as she can
remember, it didn’t. But then, maybe it did. If you need a
definitive answer, write to Gary Condit, care of some medical
intern in Bethesda.
Bonnie Chernin Rogoff is founder, Jews
For Life. She can be e-mailed at [email protected]
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