how you ask it is crucial. this is why i never, ever ask a negative question. i think it's insulting to the person you want to talk to and it creates a bad impression about what you're doing. you're asking for someone's time because you need information that will lead you to a better understanding of your subject. sometimes you get negative information when you really don't want it and you haven't even asked for it, i know, i remember calling a woman to ask her about a senate wives luncheon in honor of the first lady. she said to me, quote, i know why you're calling. you want me to repeat those nasty things that nancy reagan was telling us yesterday about barbara bush. [laughter] actually, all i wanted to find

out was how much money the senate wife his raised for mrs. reagan's drug abuse fund. in that telephone call i got more than i asked for and i used every single w