how would i respond? i said, i would be interested in talking about that, and that is where that began. why were you interested at the time? what were your thoughts? being an ombudsman is a difficult but intriguing job to me, and the new york times is kind of the pinnacle of the newspaper profession, so i thought it was an unusual opportunity, and i was definitely interested. what happened next? there were a couple of phone calls about it, and then my wife and i were literally in an airport, and i got a call in my cell phone saying, could you come to new york and talk more seriously about it. the job was offered to me, and i took it. what about the job? who talked to you most about what was required? the executive editor talk to me the about that. what about what he wanted intrigue year intrigues you? there is no written description. each of us has approached it in a different way, just as i am sure my successor will approach it in yet a different way, and