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Aug. 12, 2013: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the American Bar Association Annual Meeting.AP

Bill Clinton's advisers, midway through his tenure as president, urged him to aggressively fight back against Republican criticism, and particularly to defend "the honor" of then-first lady Hillary Clinton -- with one strategist saying Democrats were too "chicken----" to do it.

The cascade of political advice was contained in the 4,000 pages of Clinton-era documents released Friday by the National Archives. The documents cover everything from the 2000 presidential election recount to health care to Democrats' pounding in the 1994 midterm elections.

But among the most pointed memos was one from adviser Paul Begala to senior adviser Donald Baer. In it, Begala called for Clinton to "defend the honor of the First Lady" in his 1996 State of the Union address.

"The Republicans are attacking her without compunction, in part because they know the Democrats are too chicken---- to retaliate," he wrote. "So it's left to the President."

At the time, Hillary Clinton was facing several investigations over various controversies, and still dealing with the fallout from the administration's failed attempt at health care reform. Begala recommended that then-President Clinton include a line in his speech saying the criticism would be "more fairly directed at me by more candid and courageous critics."

The president did not include such a line in his address, though he did thank the first lady, whom he called "a wonderful wife, a magnificent mother and a great first lady."

The documents, which the National Archives began to release last month, continue to reveal behind-the-scenes tidbits about how the Clinton White House dealt with myriad challenges and scandals -- the documents are receiving close attention considering Hillary Clinton's potential interest in a 2016 White House bid.

A first wave of documents released in February provided insight into the Clinton administration's concern over the failed health care overhaul plan, which Hillary Clinton helped lead, and showed how advisers to the first lady tried to shape her public image.

The latest set shows advisers also urging the president not to take the blame after his party's midterm losses and instead to hit back hard. Preparing for Clinton's 1995 State of the Union speech, Begala said the president should change his tone regarding Democratic losses in the midterm elections.

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Clinton Files: Strategist urged president to defend Hillary's honor, said Dems 'chicken----'