It was a Wednesday night, 9:15, and The Atlanta Constitution's chiefs were in managing editor Jim Minter's office sorting through a busy news day, debating the next day's front page: Gov. Jimmy Carter was mad at legislators. Inflation was roaring. The Watergate investigation was accelerating. Hank Aaron was chasing the home run record. And the FBI thought kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst might soon be released.
The meeting was winding down when Minter's phone rang. It was Reg Murphy, the paper's editor.
I've been kidnapped, he said.
Well, then you're in a helluva shape, Reg, the gruff and unflappable Minter said. No one's going to pay anything for you.
After hanging up, Minter cracked that the dashing, erudite Murphy must be out drinking, drawing a round of laughter.
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