Annoying problem with ssh keys

[Kennneth P. Turvey]

Everytime I need to use ssh I get a dialog to enter the passphrase for 
the key.  It doesn't work.  If I cancel it three times I get a prompt on 
the command line and the same passphrase works.  Of course it isn't 
cached anywhere, so the next time I need to use it I have to go through 
the same procedure again.  

How do I get ssh to behave? 

Thanks. 

-- 
Kenneth P. Turvey <kt-usenet at squeakydolphin.com>
http://www.electricsenator.net

  Over grown military establishments are under any form of government
  inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly
  hostile to republican liberty.  -- George Washington