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Really? That's what I was curious about.

I encouraged them to go to Washington, to make trips. In fact, I sent one of them out to Vietnam long before I made that trip to Vietnam myself. I did it, I guess -- I don't now remember what year -- but, anyway, I sent one of my editorial associates out to Vietnam very early in the game, as I said, long before I went out myself.

When you say “early in the game,” you mean early in terms of covering Vietnam?

Early in the war. When I became editor of the page, which was 1961, and the Vietnam War didn't really gear up until -- well, American involvement -- didn't really gear up until about '60, but especially after '63, when Diem was assassinated, Saigon could not get its act together and [Lyndon] Johnson became president.

Before you leave that period, I'm interested in your trip, since it was fairly early. I don't think you've talked about it on tape before.

Well, it was one I talked to you about.

But not on tape.

Oh. Not on tape.

Tell me today about it.