They needed private IP ranges that wouldn't conflict with the real internet. 192.168 was just sitting there unused, so they grabbed it along with 10.x.x.x and 172.16-31.x.x.
It isn't an article, but a mailing list post, and the post starts out with:
This is a fuzzy recollection of something I believe I read, which might well be inaccurate, and for which I can find no corroboration. I mention it solely because it might spark memories from someone who actually knows:
Spoiler: it sparks one memory from one person, who winds up being mistaken.
Offering an alternative hypothesis seems reasonable given the content of the post.
Symbiote|5 months ago
marcusb|5 months ago
Offering an alternative hypothesis seems reasonable given the content of the post.
bmacho|5 months ago
rzzzt|5 months ago
3np|5 months ago