Now that Clinton is gone, the deal's done, what is the Straight Dope on Whitewater?

Factual Questions
1

Now that Bill Clinton has wrapped up the 7 year investigation into his activities with a Get Out of Jail Free Pass with the Special Prosecutor, can someone, in simple, OBJECTIVE terms, explain Whitewater?

I especially need to understand:

-How Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky somehow got entagled in all this.
-What exactly, according to the prosecutors, was the Whitewater scam and how did a local Arkansas matter become a federal prosecutorial matter? (Was a shady real estate deal, if it was shady, worth bringing down a president?)
-What was Susan McDougal’s role, and was she such a dangerous criminal that she had to be shackled hand and foot? Did she shut up for Clinton, and if so, why the delay in pardoning her?

I realize asking the Dopers to be “objective” in a case that I am sure is so immersed in partisan politics is a tall order, but if you could try in responding to this, I’d appreciate it! (Maybe if you feel strongly one way or the other, why not start a new thread in the Pit or GD?)

I really do not want to be demoted to “Great Debates” or “BBQ Pit” with this thread! (God knows I’ve been there!)

2

Here is a Washington Post article/primer on the more salient aspects of the Whitewater saga. The article also has links to a bunch of background info on the entire independent counsel investigation(s), the impeachment, etc. Happy surfing!

3

Good link, headshok. Pretty much as I remember it - a Republican fishing expedition. Makes you wonder what the Clinton Years would have been like if the GOP wasn’t so fixated on proving what a bad guy he was (talk about your 'Sore Losermen!).

4

Chill, Lawoot. The OP specifically asked us to keep it objective.

There were legitamite issues to be addressed. To quote the Post article:

Monica Lewinsky got involved in things when she tried to convince Linda Tripp to lie to Ken Starr during the upcoming Whitewater interviews. Tripp told Starr about Lewinsky’s attempts to influence her, and Starr started looking at Monica. That, of course, really got the ball rolling.

Paula Jones is a seperate issue. She’s suing Clinton for sexual harassment. She claims that he fondled her against her will back when he was governor of Arkansas.