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the FBI, authorized and with an introduction by J. Edgar Hoover. Would you publish it?" I said, “George, are you kidding me? Every publisher in America would give his right arm for a book like that. We've all been trying to get a book on the FBI, authorized by them. He said, “Well, if you want it, it's yours.” I said, “You must be kidding because this is not something you're showing me up on. This is something that I could probably be eternally grateful for.” He said, “Tomorrow afternoon we're meeting for lunch at the Lotus Club, you and Mr. Louis Nichols of the FBI and myself.” I wailed and said, “Tomorrow afternoon's the opening day of the World Series. I've got tickets for the Yankees and Brooklyn.” George said, “Do you want the FBI book?" I said, “I certainly do.” He said, “Give the tickets away.” So, with a breaking heart, I gave the tickets away, and we met.

I had never met Lou Nichols before. He was number three man in the FBI. He was right behind Hoover and Tolson and was there until he resigned. He is now vice-president of Schenley's. He went in with Mr. Rosensteel because, like so many FBI men, the pay there was so low that he couldn't afford to stay. He had a big family. But Lou Nichols was a wonderful guy and we got along immediately and they said we could have the book, The F.B.I. Story.

Of course, I was delighted. Nichols said, “Now we've got to find a fellow to write it. You're going to pick the fellow, but of course we have to approve. We're going to have to show him all kinds of secret records. Were going to