Not so shy

Chris Matthews, “excessively shy”? No, I don't think so either. My memories of Chris date back over 50 years, but are still vivid. We worked together in Paris, 1968. He was one of the younger reporters tracking the revolution on the streets. I was news editor. He was the one you could never find, but who would then come hurtling back to base with the most lively, offbeat copy.

If I had ever done an annual report on Chris, which I didn't, there could have been two columns. One would have described an articulate young man of great talent and charm, shock-haired and engaging, a natural reporter and writer. The other column would have used words like impudent, irreverent, maverick, infuriating.

I remember my 30th birthday, which I was not mentioning within the office. Chris had found out and as I arrived at my desk he passed me a folded note:  

       NO LONGER A WHIZ KID HA HA! it said.  

       Salaud! I replied. ■