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Edward KocheEdward Koche
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Brademus and Paul Sarbanes. And, you know, Mama, they're probably the two smartest men in Congress.’ My mother said, ‘Are they Jewish?’ and I said, “No, Mama, they're not Jewish -- they're Greek.’ My mother said, ‘Are you sure they're not Jewish?' I thought a moment and then I said to my mother, ‘Mama, I think they're half-Jewish.”’ And then he said to this crowd, holding out his hands, “Tonight I'm half Greek.” And that place erupted. I think it's the best story I've ever heard for an audience of that kind. It was wonderful, just wonderful.

Well, Iakovos, who has taken to really like me -- they had a meeting I think before this dinner I've just discussed at church services because of the Cypriote-Greek tragedy that was taking place. Only two Congressmen came -- maybe three. Biaggi was there. He's very involved with the Greeks because his district has a lot of Greeks in it. Myself and maybe Badillo, but I'm not sure Badillo was there.

Iakovos introduced the two of us. Biaggi is not a smart guy. He's a cunning guy, but he's not smart. He doesn't speak well. There's something missing. And he said all the usual garbage -- nothing moving about what he said. And then the archbishop introduced me, and it was in the most glowing terms. I can't describe to you how be introduced me-it was incredible. And then I got up and made a very brief statement. It was a very moving one, and it just talked about how I'd come to know the archbishop and I repeated the phrase, which I've done dozens of times: “What is it that your people and my people have done that we should suffer so?” It was just a wonderful





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