James Joyner's post on the huge backlog of security clearance investigations reminded me of an episode in my own life regarding security clearances.
It was 1982, and I was reporting for duty at a certain three letter agency. In addition to the standard security clearance requirements for that "industry," the agency required personal interviews for all incoming personnel. These interviews were indistinguishable from those conducted for the SBI. You know, they ask you questions to allow you to incriminate yourself: "Do you use drugs?" "When did you stop selling secrets to the Soviets?" and so forth.
My interviewer happened to be an attractive young woman in her mid 20s. When she got to the standard question, "Have you ever participated in an extra-marital affair," I couldn't help myself, and responded with, "Are you making a proposition?"
After a few seconds of her burbling and stuttering, I let her off the hook. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. No, I've never participated in an extra-marital affair. Yet."
I think it was the wink I gave her to punctuate the "Yet" that caused her to view me through a jaundiced eye for the rest of the interview.
