Due to poor judgement, there was a mistake in the lives of two 'Op-Ed' page contributors, Maureen Dowd and John Tierney. According to The New York Daily News' 'Rush & Molloy':

The New York Times' new columnist John Tierney won't need anyone to introduce him to his Op-Ed neighbor Maureen Dowd. They used to be lovers.

The two started dating back in 1979, when they were reporters for the Washington Star. Writing for a women's magazine, Dowd said she knew the end was near when she found a little black dress that wasn't her size in Tierney's closet. "[He told] me we weren't getting married because he was involved with a rich, beautiful woman, and anyhow, he had never really loved me."

Both writers regret the error.

Exes mark the Op-Ed slot [NYDN]