Secretary who testified on Clinton's sexcapades now working for Obama

Washington, Dec.17 (ANI): Betty Curie was a key part of former US President Bill Clinton's White House staff. As his personal secretary, she used to answer the phones, and she also was forced to testify against her boss when he indulged in his sexcapades with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Having retired after her first tryst with the Clintons, she has now emerged from southern Maryland to volunteer at the Obama headquarters.

The New York Times says that Currie, 69, has shied from publicity and kept a low profile in Hollywood, Maryland, where she lives with her husband, Bob, and Socks, the presidential cat, which she took with her after Clinton left office.

Currie, who works with local non-profit organizations and serves on the Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary's County, declined to discuss her work for Obama or her recent life, citing a transition office policy against volunteers giving interviews.

Compelled to testify to a grand jury five times about Clinton's relationship with Lewinsky, Currie is widely admired in Clinton circles for her loyalty and effectiveness.

Obama's transition team head John Podesta, who was Clinton's last White House chief of staff, said it was natural for him to call Currie back to service.

"Of course I asked her because in the 30 years we have worked together, I have never known anyone with more grace, dedication and public spirit than Betty," he said. "And she has one mean Rolodex."

Currie is the latest familiar face from the Clinton era to assist Obama's team. In addition to Podesta, Obama's chief of staff, his White House counsel and his economics, energy and environmental advisers all served in the Clinton administration. So did most of the cabinet officers he has chosen and many of the transition aides conducting agency reviews. And the newly designated secretary of state is Hillary Rodham Clinton.

A longtime secretary in agencies like the Peace Corps, Currie left government to work for Democratic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 before joining Clinton in 1992. She then served in Clinton's transition until he picked her to be his secretary. She stayed through all eight years, calmly managing the intersection of power and policy.

Obama aides say they expect Currie to help out through the transition but not to return to the White House after the inauguration.

Currie has kept in touch with the Clintons and donated 750 dollars to Hillary Clinton's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination this year.

When she ran into Hillary Clinton last spring, she told a writer from Southern Maryland Newspapers, Mrs. Clinton asked about Socks.

U.S. News and World Report has reported that Socks, now 19, has cancer. (ANI)