"If I see this again, I'll kill you," he said. His face was stoic. As he continued to make inflammatory statements about people based on their race, religion and sexual activities, I realized I was meeting a very different Leonard Jeffries from the one he wanted characterized in print.

"Do you realize that People fear you?" I asked, in part hoping that his answer would provide me solace. He responded, "They should."

EVENTUALLY, Jeffries wanted to know the racial makeup of The Crimson. Not wanting to misrepresent the organization, I told him that I was one of few Blacks on the paper.

He asked for the names of the people who "run" the Crimson. I told him the name of the president, Rebecca Walkowitz, and of my direct editor, Steve Newman. After learning these names, Jeffries demanded the interview tapes.

Jeffries said: "This interview is over. I'm gonna have to take this tape." I tried to interrupt him when he started talking, but he ignored me.

The tape was still going and "Brother Larry." one of Jeffries' large bodyguards, asked for it. I gave it to him.

"The one in your pocket, too," Brother Larry added. I tried to appeal to Jeffries, but Brother Larry got up and came toward me. I reached out to hand him the tape and he said,"Put it in [the tape recorder] and play it." Jeffries looked at him and Brother Larry said,"I just want to make sure that it's the same tape."

Jeffries nodded and said to me, "you don't understand the powers you are dealing with."

Now, Jeffries claims that there was no interview and that I even embraced him when what he has now termed a "conversation" was over. This is false.

THESE, IN SUMMARY, are the facts of my interview with Jeffries. Contrary to what others have said, my tuition has not been paid for by the CIA. This incident is not an ingenious concoction from the mind of Alan Dershowitz. I do not work for U.S. military intelligence.

Nor am I part of a media conspiracy to discredit Leonard Jeffries. My intentions were to report what he said on October 18, no more. I have.

Jonathan Eliot Morgan '92 is an editor of The Harvard Crimson.