TRIPP WIRE

"Linda: buy a tape recorder." These five words probably consigned Bill Clinton's political reputation to the dustbin. Seen by many as an amiable, but decent fool, Clinton would be forever branded a liar by denying his sexual relationship with "that woman".

And the evidence, was not just revealed in mistress Monica Lewinsky's grubby, soiled dress, but also in hours of tape recordings made covertly by Tripp. Tripp, proving to Monica she was just the sort of friend you don't want in a crisis, was taught by the expert, the one time Nixon spy, Lucianne Goldberg, who encouraged her to record the tearful Monica.

Originally Lucy had planned to broker a book deal for Linda but strangely, ace ghost writer Goldberg claimed in an interview with The New Yorker that Tripp's writing was simply not good enough to win over the publishers.

Many doubted the explanation, believing Lucianne could have banged the whole thing out for Tripp in a couple of weeks. Instead, Lucy advised her friend to take the tape recordings to independent counsel Kenneth Starr.

And, as they say, the rest is history. At least Lucianne was honest about some of her motives. "I'm not going to say that I did this because I'm some great Christian," she told the New Yorker.

"I did it because it's f*cking fascinating! I love dish! I live for dish!" Whether her contribution ensured that her beloved "Dubya" became President of the USA is anyone's guess but the devoted readers of her popular website Lucianne.com are in little doubt.