But, again, the charge of “dual loyalty” was never made, and I have been very careful about mentioning faith. People might disagree with me on issues, but that is far different.
Ed, you know I respect you, and I hope you will accept the truth of these statements that come from the heart. Warm regards.
Bush added a handwritten entry: “P.S. In spite of this “flap” your #1 fan remains BPB [i.e., Barbara Pierce Bush] – she sends her best.”
Koch discussed the allegations in his own New York Daily News column and, in a March 13, 1992 comeback to Bush’s letter, he wrote (source: The Koch Papers: My Fight Against Anti-Semitism):
Regarding Secretary of State Jim Baker and his alleged remarks, which I reported in my column, you must know that if I did not have complete confidence in my source, who was present when the remarks were made, I would not have reported it as such. Believe me, the source is impeccable and is one that even you would find totally credible. I have gone out of my way to say I do not consider Secretary Baker’s remarks as anti-Semitic, but rather as crude, political comments, writing off Jewish voters, which I am sure is not what you would want. Two newspapers corroborated my references that Jim Baker made such statements . . .
In a 2008 book, Koch finally revealed his source – and it was, indeed, unimpeachable: then-Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp.
