January 25, 1999
Web posted at: 3:35 p.m. EDT (1535 GMT)

Bill Clinton: Clinton became only the second president to be impeached on December 19 when the House approved two articles of impeachment accusing him of perjury and obstruction of justice. Clinton has admitted a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, but continues to deny that he lied under oath about it or asked anyone else to. Clinton's August 17 televised confession to the nation did nothing to put the matter to rest, only inflaming his critics further. But several subsequent apologies and the public broadcast of his grand jury testimony seems to have placated many Americans, as Clinton still enjoys high favorability ratings. Democratic gains in the midterm elections buoyed the president's claim that the American people did not approve of the Republicans' handling of the investigation and impeachment inquiry. But Republicans pressed on, passing the articles of impeachment against Clinton and the matter moved to the Senate. He continues to fiercely reject calls for his resignation.

David Kendall: Kendall is the Clintons' personal lawyer for Whitewater matters. First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton successfully pushed for him to be in charge of the Lewinsky case. A Rhodes scholar and Yale law school graduate, Kendall practiced civil rights law before joining the elite Washington, D.C., firm of Williams & Connolly.

Charles Ruff: Ruff has served as White House counsel since 1997. Prior to that, he was corporation counsel to the District of Columbia. The former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia also served as special prosecutor in the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. From 1982 to 1995, Ruff was a partner in the Washington law firm of Covington & Burling.

Gregory Craig: The newest member of the president's legal team, Craig has been the White House counsel in charge of responding to Independent Counsel Ken Starr's referral, and in communicating matters of impeachment to the president. Prior to joining his work as special counsel, he served as director of policy and planning at the State Department.

Cheryl Mills: Mills, a deputy White House counsel, joined the administration's transition team in 1992, coming over from a Washington, D.C. firm, Hogan and Hartson. A graduate of Stanford University Law School, Mills has a reputation as a Clinton loyalist and fierce advocate.

Dale Bumpers: Bumpers, a former Arkansas senator and governor, was a late addition to the Clinton defense team. He has a reputation as a skilled orator who can cut through legalisms to make a persuasive case. Bumpers is a longtime friend of Clinton and his status will allow him to address the judges-jurors, senator to senator. He has likened the investigation of the president to the Salem witchcraft trials.

Nicole Seligman: Seligman, 41, has been Kendall's behind-the-scene partner at Williams & Connolly. Along with her partnership at the powerful D.C. firm, Seligman has an impressive resume of legal experience. She was on the legal team that represented Lt. Col. Oliver North in his Iran-Contra trial. She clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and was considered one of Marshall's all-time favorite clerks. The New Yorker received a undergraduate degree from Radcliffe and edited the Law Review while studying Law at Harvard. A close friend of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Seligman represents many media organizations, including CNN in the Tailwind matter, ABC, and occasionally the National Enquirer.