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about the J. Edgar Hoover reconciliation thing. I think he should have defied Hoover, to pay all his damned tapes, you know. And as far as I'm concerned, that would have damaged Hoover a hell of a lot more than it would have damaged Martin. Again, I didn't prevail.

I was going to say, wiser heads prevailed in the advice to Martin on that, except that I don't think they were wiser a bit. I think they were -- want me to tell you what I think?

Yes.

I think they were scared. At a time when they shouldn't have been. I think they should have out-bluffed Hoover, rather than capitulate to him, because I think Hoover was on the ropes, in his calumny against Martin.

Of course, now, originally the existence of these tapes was not publicly known.

Well, we knew it.

You knew it, and of course, that one infamous example, the apparent blackmail attempt --

-- sure.

Through Coretta King. Did you discuss that particular tape with Martin?

No. We discussed generally the existence of the tapes, the leaking of the tapes to news men, reporters, and the