"Focusing attention on the reporter diverts attention from the fact that the reporter represents the public that can't ask for itself," he said. "The basis of the First Amendment is not the reporter's right but that only a fully-informed citizenry can vote correctly."

Otten conceded that the vicious parochialism of most newspapers in competing for scoops goes against a concerted effort to disseminate the news to the public. And syndicated columnist Jack Anderson's burning desire to publish dope on Sen. Thomas F. Eagleton's (D-Mo.) use of drugs only led to a rash and premature account, Otten said.

Yet, the journalist seemed bitter or at least unimpressed by I.F. Stone's sudden emergence as the white knight of journalism. Otten allowed that Stone's distance from normal journalistic circuits preserved him from making concessions to sources or "getting tied up with sources."

"But that's an easy criticism to make by people who don't have to work at this day in and day out. Good reporters are constantly aware of this," he said. "The problem with Izzy Stone is that someone has to do this work. Izzy Stone could not sit back and write without The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Congressional Record," he said.

Returning to his own experience, Otten said, "I've covered almost every beat in Washington except the Department of Agriculture, thank God."

"The White House is sterile, there's limited access to sources and it drives good men to drink," he went on. "The best beat in town is Congress. Up on the Hill there's a three-ring circus--an open community--where there's always something going on and somebody willing to talk."

It is the pace of living in Cambridge that makes his sabbatical a real vacation, Otten said.

"Being here has forced me to meet people and teach myself subjects that I haven't been covering in Washington," he concluded. "I never learned to sleep late, but I have few other constraints here."