Appropriate apology

Ted Heath, England's Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974

Baron William Beaverbrook was a major publisher of British newspapers. Once he wrote a nasty and offensive article on the member of Parliament Ted Heath, who eventually became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A few days later, they met in a public toilet. Finding himself trapped and in an uncomfortable situation, he told Ted ‘my friend, I am so sorry for what I wrote about you. I was wrong and I want to apologize to you.’ At that, Ted Heath responded ever so diplomatically, ‘very well, but next time I prefer that you insult me in the toilet, and make your apology in the newspapers!’