As recalled in her memoir, it was one of Hillary Clinton’s lowest moments: the day her husband, the president, told her he had been having an affair with a White House intern, People reports.
“Gulping for air, I started crying and yelling at him,” the first-lady-turned-secretary-of-state wrote in 2004’s Living History. “’What do you mean? What are you saying? Why did you lie to me?’ ”
Now, nine years after her published memoir, newly unearthed journals are shedding light on how Clinton really felt about her husband Bill Clinton’s infamous affair with Monica Lewinsky.
The journals, donated to the University of Arkansas after Clinton confidante Diane Blair’s death in 2000, have been available to the public since 2010. The revelations contained within flew under the radar until the Washington Free Beacon published an investigation into the papers’ contents Sunday.
According to the documents, which were donated by Blair’s husband, the first lady laid much of the blame for the affair at Lewinsky’s feet, calling the former intern a “narcissistic loony toon” who happened to approach the president during a moment of personal weakness.
In a 1998 phone call, recorded in Blair’s diary, Clinton said that the president had been brought low by the recent deaths of Bill’s mother, Hillary’s father and the couple’s close friend Vince Foster, as well as by political attacks from Republicans.
After speaking with a psychologist, Hillary also suggested that the roots of her husbands’s infidelity lay in his childhood, particularly the struggle between his mother and grandmother over who would raise him.
Still, Blair noted, “It was a huge personal lapse. And [Hillary] is not taking responsibility for it.”
Hillary Clinton has not commented on the information contained in the papers.
■
Wolverine is back celebrating the Great White Way! Hugh Jackman will return to host the 68th Annual Tony Awards on CBS June 8, E! News reports.
This is Jackman’s fourth time hosting the Tonys. He served as host from 2003-2005 and won an Emmy for hosting the awards in 2004.
“We are thrilled to have Hugh Jackman return to host the Tony Awards,” Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music and live events at CBS Entertainment, said in a statement. “Hugh is the ultimate performer — actor, singer and dancer — he does it all, second to none. He is a consummate entertainer and the one you want out there hosting your live television event.”
Neil Patrick Harris previously hosted the Tonys from 2011-2013.
Jackman, who is also a Tony winner, recently starred in “Prisoners” and “Les Miserables.” He’ll headline “X-Men: Days of Future Past” in May, returning to the role of Wolverine.
The Tony nominations will be announced live April 29 in New York City.
■
Philip Seymour Hoffman left behind two private diaries that revealed his struggles with substance abuse and attempts to stay sober, E! News reports.
NBC News has exclusively learned that following the actor’s tragic death on Feb. 2, police searched his New York City apartment and discovered two journals along with several books by Truman Capote.
The Oscar-winning actor addressed his “demons” and attempts to stay clean with Narcotics Anonymous meetings in numerous handwritten entries.
Multiple sources familiar with the contents of the diaries revealed to NBC News that some of the entries appear to have been written while Hoffman was receiving treatment.
Some entries are apparently hard to read, with sketches and handwriting becoming more illegible as it goes on — suggesting that Hoffman may have relapsed while writing them.
“It’s stream of consciousness and difficult to follow,” one source told the news organization. “In one line he refers to ‘Frank who always owes money’ and on the same page he writes about a 15-year-old girl from Texas.”
A second source explained, “It seems he did at least part of it in rehab. It definitely contained some soul-searching. But there is also a fair amount of rambling that doesn’t make sense.”
Hoffman’s journals also were said to be strewn with references to past drug deals.
The two diaries are small — with one measuring about 6 by 8 inches and another approximately 7 by 9 inches.
Hoffman died at the age of 46 after an apparent drug overdose.
Found in his apartment were 49 full bags of heroin, 23 empty bags of heroin, four bags of white powder believed to be cocaine and various prescription drugs.
■
“Game of Thrones” star Michelle Fairley has joined “24: Live Another Day,” Fox’s highly anticipated 24 revival, E! News has learned.
Fairley will take on the recurring role that was originally supposed to be played by Judy Davis, who bowed out of the project due to “personal matters” earlier this month.
The star, whose character Catelyn Stark tragically and memorably died during the HBO fantasy hit’s infamous Red Wedding, will play Margot, a British national and the widow of a notorious terrorist opposite Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer when the Fox series debuts in May.
Since leaving Westeros behind, Fairley has recurred on USA Network’s “Suits’” third season as Ava Hessington.
Fairley is just the latest actor to join “24: Live Another Day’s” cast, which includes Mary Lynn Rajskub (reprising her role of Chloe), Kim Raver, William Devane, Giles Matthey, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Benjamin Bratt and Michael Wincott.
“Chuck’s” Yvonne Strahovski will play a CIA agent hunting Jack, while “The O.C.’s” Tate Donovan will tackle the role of the White House Chief of Staff.
“24: Live Another Day” picks up four years after the events of the 2010 finale, with Jack Bauer still in hiding as a fugitive in London. The 12-episode series is filming on location in London.
■
Ray Davies and Donovan are among the class of the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Associated Press reports.
The organization announced Tuesday that “Midnight Train to Georgia” writer Jim Weatherly and English songwriter Graham Gouldman also made the cut. Mark James, the writer behind “Always on My Mind” — covered by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson — rounds out the list of five inductees.
The new class beat out top acts that were also up for nomination, including Madonna, John Mellencamp, Sade, Nile Rodgers and Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Davies, the Kinks leader singer and chief songwriter, penned the band’s hits “You Really Got Me” and “Tired of Waiting for You.”
The Songwriters Hall of Fame gala will be held June 12 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
First Published: February 12, 2014, 12:07 a.m.
