Investigations: The Spies Who Were Caught Cold

The president of the world's most profitable corporation last week sat as an embarrassed witness before a Senate subcommittee. General Motors President James M. Roche, 59, candidly admitted that his company — without his knowledge — had hired a private eye to peer into the personal life of a young man who had written a book about au tomotive safety particularly criticizing a G.M. product. Said Roche: "I am not here to excuse, condone or justify in any way. To the extent that General Motors bears responsibility, I want to apologize here...