The French Mistress...
In French class (which I'm paying too much for, and am not learning a lot it), the prof mentioned something about Monica Lewinsky, and how she thinks that the Americans over-reacted to the situation.
She then continued to explain that in general, French people expect the head of state to have a mistress on the side. Ever since Henry II (the one who married Catherine de Medici in the 1500's), most of the kings, and emperors, and presidents, have had a "special lady". The ladies often had an influence on the ruler.
Francois Mitterrand (1916-1996), a well-known French president, had a mistress, Claire
Despres. She went to most public functions, and his funeral. Mitterrand even had the government (read the tax-payers) pay for her flat in Paris.