The nation held its breath, as it always does when its evening programming is interrupted with a message that says the president of the United States is going to address the nation.

But Monday night was different.

President Clinton had just spent most of the day testifying in front of the grand jury.

The leaks, the accusations, the Starr, the 6-month-old semen on the alleged dress were all factors playing in Americans’ minds.

How would the president’s address affect the nation’s future?

To impeach or not to impeach was the question plaguing many senators.

Then there was the question of how the American public felt about the Lewinsky scandal. Did they care if their president was getting it on in the Oval Office?

I doubt most were surprised when Clinton finally fessed up to the fact that he did have an inappropriate relationship with Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern floozy.

Whether it was right or wrong for Clinton to have an affair is a moral question that I’m sure not every American would answer the same.

Personally, I just want to tell Clinton that I ain’t mad at him.

I wasn’t so disappointed in the fact that the head of our democratic government had an affair, but I was mad at the way he did it.

Don’t get it mixed.

I’m not condoning that men and women break their marriage vows. But this isn’t the first time a United States president has had a little something on the side. It’s just the first time one’s actions were stupid enough to get him caught.

Clinton, I’m so disappointed in you.

Didn’t anyone ever tell you that if you’re going to do something, make sure you do it right?

Of all people to have an affair with, you pick Monica Lewinsky. A 24-year-old woman with nothing to lose. No established job, no husband, no kids, nothing, nada.

It was like you went into Kum & Go and got caught stealing a 25 cent pack of gum.

Here’s just a quick lesson on choosing partners for future affairs, which I’m sure you’ll have, if not impeached. Like they say, every dog has to have a bone.

First, look for a woman in a top position who loves her job and would hate to give it up. That way she won’t go yacking to someone like Linda Tripp because she’ll be afraid you’d get her fired.

Second, look for a woman who is married and loves her husband, but just gets off on having sex with you because you’re the president. The icing on the cake is to find a woman who is married and has kids. Make sure the woman would do anything for her husband and kids, and she would never break up her happy home.

Third, make sure you’re the one wearing the pants in the affair. This is not to be taken literally, Bill.

Fourth, get a woman who has some wealth accumulated. Not some right out of college hillbilly. It looked liked Monica was so hard up for money that she would have done all this just to get a makeover.

If you follow these four, no-lose Tara’s Tips To Having a Successful Affair, I don’t see any way that you could ever have another Lewinsky situation.

In all seriousness, I do believe Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky is an issue that only concerns him and Hillary.

The question many need to address is whether top government officials, like the president of the United States, have the right to privacy. Should their private lives be guarded?

I believe the answer to that question is yes. Finally we have a president who is a true representation of our society. A president who makes mistakes.

I admire President Clinton for admitting to a matter in his personal life. He may not have given details, but let’s face it, did we really want to know?

The public knows past presidents have had extramarital affairs. President Clinton’s address to the nation Monday was no surprise. It was only historic because it was the first time a president got caught and had to admit his sin.

Clinton, I ain’t mad at ya’. You performed no differently than any other president. I’m just mad that you were stupid enough to get caught.

If you’re going to have another affair, my advice to you is make sure you do it right.

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Tara Deering is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Des Moines. She is editor in chief of the Daily.