Hillary Clinton's 'Worst Moment'

June 4, 2003 — -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's new book, Living History gives the former first lady's account of her years in the White House. The New York senator spoke to ABCNEWS' Barbara Walters exclusively about the memoir — and how she came to learn all the details surrounding her husband's involvement with Monica Lewinsky.

Sen. Clinton has never before spoken publicly about her feelings — or about any conversation she had with her husband during the dark days of the 1998 Lewinsky scandal.

In her new book, due out Monday — and in the 20/20 interview, Hillary Clinton reveals that from the moment the story broke, President Clinton lied not only to the country about his relationship, but to his wife as well.

The full interview will air Sunday, June 8, on ABC. Following are some excerpts.

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, D-N.Y.: He told me it wasn't true.

BARBARA WALTERS, ABCNEWS: Did you believe him?

CLINTON: I did.

WALTERS: One more false rumor.

CLINTON: That is what I believed, yes.

As the late-night phone calls [between the president and the White House intern] were discovered, and the logs of gifts and visits became public, Sen. Clinton says she cross-examined her husband again and again — and still the president claimed nothing happened — just two days before he was to testify under oath about the affair.

WALTERS: On Saturday, Aug. 15, your husband woke you up.

CLINTON: That was probably the worst moment that I can even imagine anyone going through because what he told me that morning was that he had not leveled with me or anyone else. He had not told me the whole truth about what the relationship was. And I was furious. I was dumbfounded. I was, you know, just beside myself with anger and disappointment.

Sen. Clinton goes on to tell the very painful days that followed and the many months she continued her duties as first lady, while sill uncertain about her marriage.

CLINTON: The jury was really out about whether the marriage would survive, whether I wanted it to survive.