Letterman had just held up the infamous photo of Fonda sitting on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun. Fonda, who is promoting her autobiography, "My Life So Far," said she is the "lightning rod" for the still-open wounds of the Vietnam War and she feels "sad about that."

Fonda told Letterman her image as Hanoi Jane is a creation of ideologues to "promulgate their right-wing, narrow worldview. It really doesn't have anything to do with me and it's kind of sick."

Editor's note: