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negotiators known in this world, at least. He had made his fame by being in the cemetery and undertaking business. As a matter of fact, I think his company was called “The Perpetual” [laughter]. It made a lot of money in Texas, and then decided to be on the big stage in Washington, and bought The Star as part of that.

As I was saying, Shepley was convinced. And he made lots of studies and lots of presentations to the Board. And I kept saying: “O.K., if we're going to do this, we have to get a top-notch publisher-editor, who knows about the newspaper business.” Well, we made passes at a couple of people, and they were unsuccessful.

You're now talking about the 1978 period where you ultimately did buy?

Yes.

Where Albritton came to you again.

Yes, when he came to us again, and the terms were better--of course, the newspaper was also suffering more. I think their share of the advertising market was down' to[at?] about 30%, something like that--

Go ahead, keep talking.

--and the Washington Post was getting stronger and stronger. So then--