Bill Clinton, the former U.S. President, will address his contentious 2018 interview with NBC’s Craig Melvin in his upcoming memoir “Citizen.” The interview, which Clinton admits was not his finest moment, saw him fielding questions about his past affair with Monica Lewinsky.

The 2018 interview was originally planned to promote a jointly authored book by Clinton and James Patterson. However, the conversation took a different turn when Melvin brought up the topic of the #MeToo movement and its implications on Clinton’s infamous past. When asked if he would have stepped down had the 1998 Lewinsky scandal unfolded in the present era, Clinton affirmed that he wouldn’t have resigned and expressed his criticism of the subsequent impeachment inquiry.

Melvin also brought up Lewinsky’s column where she shared her evolved views on sexual harassment in light of the #MeToo movement. When asked if this changed his perspective, Clinton responded, “No, I felt terrible then.” On being asked if he had ever apologized to Lewinsky, he confessed he had not done so directly, but had publicly expressed his remorse saying, “I did say publicly on more than [one] occasion I was sorry.”

Feeling defensive during the interview, Clinton challenged Melvin’s understanding of the Lewinsky case and his commitment to gender equality. He suggested that Melvin had overlooked crucial details and questioned his grasp of the situation, pointing out that Melvin was quite young when the scandal took place and may not have been adequately informed.

In his memoir, Clinton concedes he was not ready for the accusation of not apologizing to Lewinsky during the interview. He shares that he has learned to channel anger towards issues impacting others instead of focusing on self-defense.

Set for release on November 19, 2024, “Citizen” primarily explores Clinton’s post-presidential life. The publication was scheduled for after the November 5 election where Clinton was a prominent figure on the campaign trail.

“Citizen” offers readers a glance into Clinton’s perspective on the 2018 interview and his handling of the Lewinsky scandal. The memoir presents an open account of his experiences and thoughts during this period.