Admittedly fallible. Obviously irritable, but he insists, not ultimately culpable.<br/> <br />Appearing before the Leveson inquiry into press standards in the UK for a second day, Rupert Murdoch was questioned about the hacking scandal that led to the demise<br/> <br />of his News of the World tabloid.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: ROBERT JAY, LEVESON INQUIRY LEAD COUNSEL, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"Did it stop at one individual, the one rogue reporter, or was it more prevalent? It was within News International's power to ascertain that, wasn't it?"<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. CEO saying (English):<br/> <br />"I think the senior executives, who were all informed and I..er...were all mis-informed, and shielded from anything that was going on there and I do blame one or two people for that, who perhaps I shouldn't name, because for all I know they may be arrested yet, but there's no question in my mind that maybe even the editor, but certainly beyond that someone took charge of a cover-up, which we were a victim to and I regret."<br/> <br />The 81-year-old media tycoon was at turns contrite...<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. CEO saying (English):<br/> <br />"I also have to say that I failed."<br/> <br />and combative.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: ROBERT JAY, LEVESON INQUIRY LEAD COUNSEL, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"Some might say this picture is consistent with a desire to cover up rather than expose..."<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. CEO saying (English):<br/> <br />"Well to people with minds like yours, yes. I'm sorry, I take that back."<br/> <br />Admitting the ordeal was a blot on his reputation, he argued he was not directly responsible.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: NEWS CORP CHIEF EXECUTIVE RUPERT MURDOCH SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"There was no attempt either at my level or several levels below me to cover it up."<br/> <br />He said he'd panicked when he closed down News of the World, but he was glad he did.<br/> <br />At one point, Murdoch apologized for relating details of a personal conversation in a public forum. He complained of being mobbed and harassed by journalists and paparazzi.<br/> <br />At a inquiry sparked by phone hacking at one of his tabloids, this was a mogul pining for a simpler, less invasive time.<br/> <br />Matt Cowan, Reuters.
