‘I have good
friends, and that
includes Monica’

A former local girl was
pulled into the spotlight because
of her friendship with
Monica Lewinsky

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Being a friend is something that Catherine Allday Davis takes seriously.

"If I am a good friend, it's because I have good friends, and that includes Monica," the former Honolulu resident said in a telephone interview from Portland, Ore.

The "Monica" that Davis is referring to is the most famous Monica of these times -- Monica Lewinsky.

It is a friendship that has endured throughout a scandal involving her college chum and the president of the United States.

But it is also a friendship that has earned Davis, 24, a reputation of being a trustworthy confidant who comforted and counseled a friend in need while not blabbing the details of her friend's affair with President Clinton.

Davis, who until yesterday declined media requests for interviews, talked about what it was like to testify before the federal grand jury convened by independent counsel Kenneth Starr in his investigation of Clinton.

She discussed how she has coped with the sudden, unwanted public attention.

"It makes me uncomfortable to get this kind of attention," she said. "You're never prepared for this."

But Davis wouldn't discuss any conversations with Lewinsky or any information divulged as part of the Starr investigation.

Davis' discretion stands in in stark contrast to the actions of Linda Tripp, initially described as a friend, who secretly taped Lewinsky's love confessions and took them to the independent counsel.

Born in Honolulu in 1973, Davis grew up in the Waialae-Kahala area with her parents and older brother, attending Wilson Elementary and St. Andrew's Priory.

She began attending Punahou School in seventh grade and graduated from there in 1991.

She then went to Lewis and Clark College, majoring in psychology, where she met Lewinsky, a fellow psychology major.

Davis met her husband, Chris, through another college friend who would eventually become her sister-in-law. When Davis was married in 1996 in Hawaii, Lewinsky was a bridesmaid.

When Lewinsky began telling her friend about her affair with the president, Davis approached the subject like any of her girlfriends dealing with a man.

"This is just any woman who had problems with a man," Davis said.

But as the Starr investigation intensified, Davis found herself pulled in.

In March, while living in Tokyo, Davis was subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury investigating the presidential love affair.

"Testifying has been a very intense learning experience," Davis said.

She said she didn't expect to be called as a witness and didn't expect the kind of attention she received following her testimony.

"I'm just her friend. I'm not a Washington insider," Davis said. "I never expected this. The media attention has been so day-to-day . . . and the investigation is very upsetting because it involves aspects of my life."

Davis had only two days' notice before her scheduled appearance so by the time she arrived in Washington on the long flight from Japan, jet lag had set in.

"I was so tired," she said.

She began testifying at 9 a.m. on March 17, broke for lunch and then completed her testimony at 4:30 p.m. She described the session as "boring," with questions being asked in repetition.

Accompanying her was a lawyer who also has Hawaii ties and was a friend of a family friend.

"I wanted to feel comfortable," she said.

Davis had to pay thousands of dollars for her flight, lodging, food and attorney. The independent counsel's office eventually reimbursed her for all the costs except for her lawyer.

She -- and Monica -- have received support from Davis' family.

"They are totally supportive of Monica through me," she said. "I try to remember that if it's hard for me, how much more incredibly worse it is for her. At least nobody recognizes me."

Davis said she has been infuriated by so-called friends of Lewinsky who have said horrible things about the former White House intern.

"This experience has taught me about being a good friend," she said. "People who said they were her friends really didn't know her . . . and some said some really bad things about her."

She said her parents and husband have been her greatest inspiration in providing insight on how best to help her friend.

"This whole thing can be scary and overwhelming," she said. "It's important that friends know you will stand by them."