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but RCA is done with great dignity and decorum. The General sits at the head of the table, smoking a cigar? and these very important people sit around and mumble “aye.”

It's not a strong board, then, you wouldn't say.

No big company has a strong board. The board of directors is there for a legal reason. We have to approve things that have been done by the executive committee and heads of various divisions. RCA is an enormous business. Their business in 1967 was over three billion dollars! So, you see, Random House is just a tiny part of that business.

RCA bought you in '65, right?

Yes. The deal became legal on May 20, 1966.

I think this is correct. There were 301 books that you published in 1965. There were 229 books published in 1966. Is there any reason for the decrease?

Absolutely none, no. I think this year of 1967, unfortunately, our list will be bigger than it's ever been before. It fluctuates.

I know that. But I wondered...there was nothing that...?