[ARW3A]

Agreed.

There is not a chance in hell that MS Word from 2004 would create a memo EXACTLY as an IBM typewriter, with or without proportional fonts, would have done in 1973.

Depending on which letter you type and which font, MS Word adjusts the kerning of the letters in front and in back of the letter just typed. It is a dynamic process. Thus, the spacing between 'a' and 'n' in the word "and" is slightly different than it is in "plant". No freak'n IBM Selectric was capable of this automatic adjustment to the front and to the back of a letter.

Anyone who claims that the two could output the exact same letter are full of sh*t. Period.

[Dolphy]

For what it's worth we have a working IBM Personal Wheelwriter in our office. I know this isn't exactly the typewriter that's been referenced but for the heck of it I typed the first paragraph of the May 19, 1972 memo, first in word (Times New Roman 12) and then on the IBM (12P).

As has been confirmed here, the paragraph breaks in Word occur exactly as they do in the May 19 memo.On the typewriter, using the same left margin, I was only able to get this much of the first line before running off the paper (in other words, extending the right margin to the end of the paper and I could not fit drill in):

1. Phone Call from Bush. Discussed options of how Bush can get out of coming to