The question is not, he said, "whether as Americans we care in moments of tragedy.
Merrill, born rich, as he said, "whether I liked it or not," thought of writing as a desk job.
"But what we're most concerned with is building the same quality housing we've always done," he said, "whether it be for sale or rental".
"The determining factor is not a walk's length," he said, "whether up hill or down dale, if it is sleeting or shining, but only accompanied/unaccompanied".
Many investors wonder, he said, "whether management has a free hand to do what's good for shareholders".
However, he said, "whether red wine has particular benefits for other conditions remains an interesting area of investigation".
The next few months will tell, he said, "whether this takes a life of its own … or this backs away a little bit".
Today, he said, whether he feels optimistic or pessimistic depends on the day.
But he said whether Washington understood Pakistan's goals was another matter.
"History," he said, "whether it's Greek, Roman or Islamic, it's all part of the human experience".
Their verdict, he said, whether guilty or not guilty, had to be unanimous.
