All but convicted of political malpractice in the court of public opinion, Congressman Gary Condit ended his four-month silence about the disappearance of former federal intern Chandra Levy with a national television interview watched Thursday by millions of Americans, many of whom heard his voice for the first time.

Condit, a 53-year-old Democrat from California, told ABC News' Connie Chung that he had nothing to do with Levy's disappearance in May and that he is not in love with the 24-year-old woman, with whom he acknowledged he had a "close relationship."

Condit stopped short, however, of admitting that he had an affair with Levy, as he reportedly did during an interview with Washington D.C. investigators still stumped by the missing persons case.

Robert and Susan Levy

Condit told Chung a half-dozen times that he would not talk specifics about the relationship "out of respect" for his family and because of a televised statement he attributed to Levy's parents that they did not want to hear the details.

Billy Martin, a Washington, D.C. lawyer hired by Robert and Susan Levy to help in the search for their daughter, later told ABC's "Nightline" that the parents want to hear the truth from the congressman and would not mind hearing the details of his relationship with Chandra.

"I don't think he was candid," Martin said of Thursday night's interview. "I don't think he was forthcoming either tonight or in any of the interviews with authorities."

In what is known in network television as the "big get," Chung asked the obvious questions at the very start of the exclusive interview, taped Thursday afternoon at a California ranch owned by a friend of Condit's.

"Congressman Condit, did you kill Chandra Levy?" Chung asked.

"I did not," Condit replied.

Condit and his wife, Carolyn, agreed to an interview with People magazine

Condit's interview with Chung is part of a campaign by the married father of two to salvage his political career in the wake of the embarrassing public disclosures that he had romantic relationships with Levy, half his age, and a 39-year-old flight attendant named Anne Marie Smith. Condit refused to characterize his relationship with Levy but denied he had an affair with Smith, whom he accused of profiting from Levy's disappearance.

The much-anticipated interview was preceded by a letter mailed Wednesday to 200,000 constituents — including the Levy family — in Condit's predominantly Republican congressional district, which has returned him to office six times since being elevated from California's state legislature in 1989.

The Levys, who did not get to watch the interview until it was aired in their time zone early Friday, have yet to offer their reaction to the throngs of reporters and camera crews camped outside their Modesto home since the media learned that their missing daughter had a relationship with the congressman.

Condit said in the letter to constituents that it was that non-stop media treatment of the case that prompted him to remain silent until now — though it may be too late to save the only career he's ever had.

Condit's lawyer, Abbe Lowell

"When tabloids turned the tragedy of Chandra's disappearance into a spectacle and rumors were reported as facts, I decided that I would not discuss my private life in the media," Condit wrote in a three-page letter in which also insisted he cooperated with police fully. "Some suggest that not talking with the media could mean I had something to do with Chandra's disappearance. I did not. I pray that she has not met the same fate as the other young women who have disappeared from the same neighborhood."

Condit, the son of a Baptist minister, did not admit to the relationship with Levy in the letter either but conceded that he has shortcomings.

"I hope you also will understand that I am not perfect and I have made my fair share of mistakes," he wrote.

Condit struck similar chords in his interview with Chung and an interview with People magazine that hits newsstands on Friday. The magazine's cover features a photo of Condit and his wife, Carolyn, who did not appear on camera during the interviewed televised Thursday night.

"I have children, and I can't think of anything that would be worse, so I feel for them," Condit told People. "My heart aches for them every day. But you know what? They don't have any reason to be suspicious of me. I would never do anything to harm Chandra …"

The 'Big Get'

Condit's interview with Chung, a major coup for the veteran journalist and ABC, came with just one condition, according to the network. Condit insisted that the taped interview be aired unedited, which is not typically done.

Condit told Chung that he spoke to Levy the day before she was last scene in Washington and that she did not appear to be upset about anything. He said they talked about Levy's plans to return to California, possibly by train, and her disappointment that her internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons had ended abruptly when officials learned that she finished graduate studies months earlier.

Condit said that when he phoned her the following day or the day after that, she did not call back. He assumed that she had taken the train back to California.

Levy was last seen at a health club near her Washington apartment. Police have interviewed Condit four times, but have said repeatedly he is not a suspect and that they have no solid leads about her whereabouts.

Lawyer Billy Martin represents Chandra Levy's parents

Condit has been criticized by some of his congressional colleagues and constituents for waiting nearly four months to talk publicly about Levy. Three newspapers serving his district have called for his resignation.

The letter constituents and a series of interviews that began Tuesday are meant to rebuild the reputation of the seven-term congressman. The ABC interview was expected to be one of the most watched programs of the summer.

During the interview, conducted with his wife and two adult children watching a monitor in a nearby room, Condit showed no emotion and was unwavering in his refusal to answer specific questions about his relationship with Levy.

Among other things, Condit said: