The Bell Curve:

Dear Rick Warren:

First of all, congratulations. You are about to bring off the most remarkable coup of my seven decades in journalism.

Eight days from now you will deliver, gift-wrapped, to your church forum arguably the two most important people in the world for the next two months.

They will be making their last public appearance before being anointed by their political parties in convention.

And for two hours, you will live out the fantasy of every journalist — and God knows how many millions of regular people, as well — to go one-on-one with those who control our destiny.

Are you too busy to stop for a moment and ponder the odds you faced against bringing this about?

Or are you so comfortable in this kind of company that awe at finding yourself going it alone before an international audience isn’t even a little bit frightening?

Whatever, it’s a considerable tribute to the even-handedness with which you have dealt with controversial social issues in previous forums at your church that these two men were willing to allow you virtual carte blanche in your questions.

But there is also a downside to this comfort, which is why I’m writing you this letter.

Your public-relations agents have been telling reporters that there won’t be any “gotcha” questions. That worries me. That’s a judgment call.

Gotcha questions are where-did-you-go-after-you- beat-your-wife tricks on irrelevant issues.

We had a couple of the primary debates — one in particular — that went this dismal route.

I don’t think anyone expects any vestige of this ploy from you. But that leaves the risk that in order to avoid suggestion of gotcha tactics, you avoid the tough but fair questions as well.

So please just keep your distance from these guys when you start the questioning. You aren’t pals until it’s over.

I’ve got a big stake in you. A week from tomorrow you will carry me as close as I will ever get inside the head of a president of the United States.

There will be no buffer zones between you and the two candidates left standing. No panel of questioners or limitations beyond the title of this forum, “Leadership and Compassion” offers a lot of latitude.