[Yes, the UK is doomed.]

Clinton: I love Great Britain _ unofficially

The Associated Press 9/5/01 2:18 PM

NEW YORK (AP) -- He never inhaled at Oxford, but Bill Clinton's role in a pro-Britain tourism campaign grew hazy Wednesday after a spokeswoman insisted the ex-president had not officially plugged England as a vacation hot spot.

"We did not authorize this," said spokeswoman Julia Payne after hearing that Clinton was one of several celebrities featured in the upcoming campaign. "We're waiting to hear from officials there."

Not so, say officials at the British Tourist Authority. Clinton was approached in May by an authority staffer during a library festival in Wales, where the ex-president gave a quick thumbs up, said Orla Farren, spokeswoman for the tourism group.

Clinton said "yes, he would be delighted to help us," Farren said. She said Clinton signed papers giving his go-ahead to the campaign, which remains in its early stages.

"We told him we were very grateful," Farren said. "We have heard nothing to indicate he objected."

Payne said that while Clinton never agreed to go along with the campaign, "he does not mind that his words are being used along with other famous people. ... He doesn't mind that he's part of a group of people touting Britain."

Clinton was familiar with England long before he reached the White House in 1992. While a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford from 1968-70, Clinton said that he smoked marijuana but never inhaled.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2001