History has a way of repeating itself, in a different form.

Although about 7,000 mergers were completed in 1968, fewer than 3,000 mergers were consummated in 1974, the fewest in more than 15 years. As of this writing–late 1977–the investment banking community continues to beleive that the merger and acquisition ways of the sixties are gone forever. Maybe so, but forever is a very long time. Besides, history does have a way of repeating itself, in a different form. Consequently, there is no way to know at this time what vogue, rage, craze, hue, or adaptation the merger game will assume at the end of the seventies and in the early eighties. But one thing seems certain. The game will be with us and could very will accelerate in the years ahead.

Don Gussow, The New Merger Game: The Plan and the Players (New York, NY: Amacom, 1978), 2-3.