Britain’s Blair Rises to Clinton’s Defense

At first, the scene seemed familiar: A White House press conference spotlighting a foreign leader’s visit is suddenly overtaken by questions about a purely domestic controversy.

Usually, in such situations, the visiting leader stands by awkwardly, staying mum as members of the U.S. press corps grill their commander in chief.

But on Friday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair changed the script.

Goaded by the British press, Blair delivered a more emphatic and eloquent defense than Clinton was able to muster himself in response to questions about the sex and cover-up allegations cascading over his presidency.

“I’ve worked with President Clinton now for some nine months as British prime minister,” an animated Blair said. “I have found him throughout someone I could trust, someone I could rely upon, someone I am proud to call not just a colleague, but a friend.”

*

Blair’s performance was unprecedented, according to political analysts. But it was not totally unexpected. The president’s advisors said days before Blair’s visit that the prime minister was preparing to support Clinton in public.

“I have never seen a head of state give another head of state a character reference like that one,” said political analyst Stephen W. Hess of the Brookings Institution. “That to me was the most stunning thing that came out of that press conference. Wow!”

Usually foreign leaders would veer far from giving any testimonial for the U.S. president for fear of looking like a toady for the only remaining world superpower.

“It’s usually considered dangerous stuff,” Hess added. “You’ve got to be very careful. It doesn’t play well at home: It looks like you’re in the pockets of the American Goliath.”

On the other hand, Blair and other U.S. allies clearly have an interest in a strong U.S. presidency, particularly at a time when a potential military crisis is brewing in the Persian Gulf region, analysts said.

Blair’s rousing endorsement was unusual, even by Clinton’s ebullient standards. In fact, Clinton advisors could cite only one rough comparison: Clinton’s supportive statements about Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin when his leadership was in question because of bouts of illness.

“I can’t think of anything that’s ever been as personal as this,” said a senior White House official. “But it’s an unusual relationship--an unusual relationship between two countries and an unusual relationship between two leaders.”

*

Blair makes a fitting defender of the president because he and Clinton have almost identical approaches to domestic policy and foreign relations. Blair has often drawn comparisons between himself and Clinton as proponents of the “radical center” in politics, and the president has done his share of supporting Blair.

Nonetheless, Blair’s speech was notable for its exuberance. “I happen to think, whether this is my place to say it or not, that if you look at the American economy, if you look at the respect with which America is held right around the world today, if you look at the standing and authority of the president, it’s a pretty impressive record for anyone,” Blair said.

Clinton clearly appreciated the personal tribute.

“The people who stand up and say things that they believe when it would be just as easy to walk away show a certain kind of character that I think is essential in a public leader,” Clinton said. “And I’m very gratified that Tony Blair has done that.”

Analysts noted that Blair’s endorsement is more likely to be persuasive to other world leaders than to the American public.

“That plays around the world more than in Sheboygan,” Hess said.