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Beirut. “Would you send the fleet in, or wouldn't you?” [laughter] And it's one after another to make the point that the job of the President is a very difficult one and you shouldn't be too critical. This was a performance, a continuous performance.

Was Time still supportive of his Vietnam policy at the point of that trip down to the ranch?

Yes. I think so.

So that--

We were still friendly.

Did you meet with him again?

No. Then of course, you go through the whole business of the black bag too. What do you do with the black bag? He says, “A fellow carries it with him wherever he goes.” I said, “Well, what do you do with it at night?” Sort of a dumb question. He says, “He sleeps on the floor right outside the door with the black bag.” I couldn't believe it but it was presumably true.

The black bag contained what?

What?