BACKGROUND | IMPEACHMENT | PLAYERS | TIMELINE

Profile: Vernon Jordan Vernon Jordan Vernon Jordan, known around town as President Clinton's "unofficial best buddy," is a lawyer and Washington power-broker who once was president of the Urban League. Jordan, 62, was drawn into the Clinton affair in late 1997 when he got a call from Betty Currie, Clinton's secretary, asking him to help Monica Lewinsky find a job. THE PLAYERS Betty Currie Lucianne Goldberg Paula Jones Vernon Jordan Monica Lewinsky Kenneth Starr Linda Tripp "I want to say absolutely and unequivocally that Ms. (Monica) Lewinsky told me in no uncertain terms that she did not have a sexual relationship with the president," Jordan told a packed news conference in January. "At no time did I ever say, suggest or intimate to her that she should lie." He said he would swear that to a federal grand jury. Jordan said he referred Lewinsky to Revlon, where he serves on the board of directors, and also to American Express and Young & Rubicam. When Lewinsky was served with a subpoena, he added, he recommended "a very competent Washington lawyer," Frank Carter, and actually took her to Carter's office. Jordan said he got involved in introducing Lewinsky to a lawyer because she had asked him, adding that he is often asked to do favors for people and routinely agrees."… I believe 'To whom much is given, much is required,' so I have tried to lend a helping hand." By Scripps Howard News Service