Lewinsky Scandal: 10 Years Later

Jan. 21, 2008 — -- It's been a decade since the name Monica Lewinsky burst onto the national scene and instantly became synonymous with a sexual scandal and a late-night punch line.

The Lewinsky scandal taught Americans what "is" is and launched an investigation that crippled Bill Clinton's presidency and legacy.

Ten years, two presidential elections and two wars later, the names and notoriety of the people at the center of the scandal have faded. Most have moved on to bigger ambitions.

Here is an update on some of the main players:

The person with the most obvious post-scandal success is Hillary Clinton — the wronged spouse.

The former first lady now is a New York senator and vying to be the first woman elected president. In a more emotive mode these days, Hillary Clinton opened up on Tyra Banks' talk show about the scandal.

"Were you embarrassed?" Banks asked. "I would be embarrassed."

"I was," Hillary Clinton responded. "You're mad. You're really upset. You're disappointed. All of that goes through your mind."

Hillary Clinton said she never doubted her husband's love for her during that time. And Bill Clinton is one of her most forceful advocates along the campaign trail these days.

"I think what's unclear yet is whether the presence of them both on the national stage — and the thought of him back in the White House as a spouse — will ring bells in peoples' minds that make them think of things they hadn't thought of in a while," said Vanity Fair national editor Todd Purdum.

Bill Clinton even has made references to the scandal while campaigning.

"Ken Starr spent $70 million and indicted innocent people to find out that I wouldn't take a nickel to see the cow jump over the moon," he said during a speech at Dartmouth.

The man Clinton referred to so sternly now is the Pepperdine University law school dean. But, the prosecutor hasn't stayed away from Washington D.C. entirely. Starr has had a few cases appear before the Supreme Court.

Linda Tripp, the tape-recording friend who helped propel the story into the national spotlight, spent years as the butt of jokes because of her appearance. She has remade her face and her life. She remarried her high school sweetheart and together the couple sells Christmas notions in Virginia.