The other part was the how-bad-can-we-be-if-we-give-you-coffee approach. Later that afternoon, when I went to Dean Ford's office to borrow a copy of the 1954 committee report, I found that the tactic was fairly ubiquitous. In the receptionist's office was a large platter of brownies and raisin and Toll House cookies. I had been there only 15 minutes when I succumbed.

"Could I have a cookie, I've been staring at them for hours."

"That one's a Toll House."

I knew I had tasted the same kind when I was in University Hall last April. The cookies are about 41/2" across and exploding with chocolate chips and pecans. I realized that the way to my politics was indeed through my stomach. It would be best to have a radical dinner that night so that the story would turn out right.

I DECIDED that I could be just as blatant as they could. I skipped to the questions about the current projects and the Development Advisory Service (DAS). After they fended off a few preliminary punches, I threw one about the supportive nature of their research for the U.S. government.

Ray Vernon leaned over to Bob Bowie, and explained that I was voicing the criticism of those who thought that foreign policy was decided by a small group in the CIA. the Pentagon, the CFIA, and the White House. Then he smiled at me.

So we were playing games, were we. All right. I had take Hum 105 and could act with the best of them when I was angry.

"Look, I'm majoring in English, Renaissance literature, and I don't know a thing about Marx or Mao. I just talked to a lot of radicals to see what their criticisms were." I usually use that role only for Humanities tables at Dunster.

Ray Vernon was sure by now he had judged me correctly. Similarly, outside of Ford's office, a reporter for some newspaper stood staring at the second floor Faculty Room as I appeared. He moved over to me and asked,

"Is that where they did it?"

"Did what?" I answered, and he moved back away.

Throughout the interview. Vernon would act the lion tamer. He would kid about radical criticism of the Center and then smile for agreement. At one point, when I asked about a book entitled United States Manufacturing in Brazil and quoted a passage from a Center Report showing its political bias, he explained that the precis was poorly done, and that the book was really about ...

I think Nye and I both noticed that Vernon was acting his role with a little too much gusto. To follow the metaphor, he wasn't watching the beast closely enough. My stance was shifting constantly, so I was unsure how well I was doing. I knew though, that Vernon was playing badly. He was a man. I thought, who probably lost at poker.

My next question was about the DAS. To dispense quickly with categories, the Center divides its work into three parts: the research program of the Center staff and Faculty, the Fellows program, and the Development Advisory Service. Each will be dealt with more patience below. I just want to suggest the flavor of the conversation.

"Take Indonesia, for example."