By Laura Barron-Lopez
For the Daily Titan 

“Here by design was raw material for future history, which filled me with excitement to preserve my own fresh but fleeting witness,” Taylor Branch writes in his newly-released historical book, “The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President.”

Branch gave a lecture of his experiences with Former President Bill Clinton and the basis for his book at the Richard Nixon Library on Tuesday evening.

Taylor Branch authored 'The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President.' Photo courtesy of Laura Barron-Lopez

His writing covers all eight years of Clinton’s presidency and presents the raw truth on Clinton’s thoughts, torments and hopes. Clinton turned to Branch to accomplish this project in order to preserve uncensored records of the “presidential experience.”

 There are 79 tapes of dialogue between Branch and Clinton, recorded for historical purposes, with each conversing the presidency firsthand. An equal number of tapes were recorded by Branch every evening on his drive home after his time with Clinton, in these tapes Branch poured into every thought, every reaction, every feeling that came to his mind from the intense conversations Clinton.

Clinton still has the 79 tapes of dialogue; Branch has the tapes he recorded of his thoughts as he witnessed them and together those experiences are the basis for his 660-page book.

Branch and Clinton’s relationship began long before Clinton took office. Branch explained at the lecture that in 1972 they were campaign partners for George McGovern’s campaign against Richard Nixon.  After the defeat to Nixon, Branch and Clinton parted ways for 20 years.

Branch said Clinton and he had contrasting views of the state of the nation.

“I was very disillusioned with government and thought there was more integrity in journalism. Clinton, however, felt that change could only occur through human nature and not around it. He felt that writers bypass and look down on politicians and the squabbles of human nature,” Branch said.

Taylor Branch lectured on his times with and tapes of former President Bill Clinton Nov. 10. Photo courtesy of Laura Barron-Lopez

Yet, 20 years after this, Clinton turned to Branch as a friend and confidant, asking for his help on this “history project.” Clinton hoped the tapes and the writings that came from them would make the government real, that historians and people would realize presidents are real human beings trying to run the government.

“I enjoyed it a lot. (Branch) gave a really good personal perspective that was very interesting,” said Jennifer Serpa, a junior art history major at Cal State Fullerton.

 Serpa felt that personal perspective was the goal Clinton hoped to achieve with Branch’s assistance. It was that personal interaction that Branch experienced with Clinton throughout all eight years, interaction that included private issues Clinton found himself conflicted over and shared with Branch. Some of these were over light subjects and others over more serious ones.

 “(Clinton) functioned best when there was interaction, but it was hard for me when he’d ask questions like, ‘Taylor, should I fire the CIA director?’” Branch said.

Branch remembers the darker subjects, such as the Monica Lewinsky scandal, as a difficult time for Clinton, who was just giving his State of the Union address after the news on the scandal was released.

Branch remembers Clinton commenting on the fact that for that State of the Union address, he would have the biggest audience ever, more tuned in due to the scandal.

“Everyone was trying to see what I was going to say about the scandal, and I didn’t say a damn thing about it. I talked about the real issues,” Clinton said to Branch.

 In regards to this, a member of the audience questioned Branch on the Clintons’ marital relationship to which Branch responded, “I don’t fully understand their relationship, but I feel they will always be married. It’s not a cold relationship, it’s real.”

 The public received the response to Branch’s lecture positively because they felt that these experiences were important and now open to them.

“I was excited to have so many of my students here because when they have the opportunity to hear someone such as Branch, a scholar, I hope they can see why I love this material and teach it,” said Scott Spitzer, a political science professor at CSUF.

When asked if his previous viewpoint’s changed or remained the same regarding his own professional path as a writer/journalist and the path Clinton chose as a politician, Branch smiled and admitted it had changed.

“I found up close that Clinton talking about any issue, and I mean any issue, was far more idealistic than people in my own newsroom. I have grown far more cynical about my profession. If there is going to be a re-invention of journalism, it has to help us be better citizens; it has to be more thoughtful. I am disillusioned with writing and now am sitting here telling you that I think politicians care more about America than we think,” Branch said.