Session: 123456789101112131415161718         Page 374375376378379380381382383384385386387388389390391392393394395396397398399400401402403404405406407408409410411412413 of 617

76 Senators and it says “copy to Ed Koch” and a copy to every member of Congress. And it a letter in which Ruth Gage-Colby and another woman, on behalf of International Women's League and the Women's Strike for Peace, denounces these Senators for urging arms for Israel.

Now, it happens that on the letterhead are about ten names. The number one name is Bella Abzug -- on their board of directors. Well, I immediately write a letter to Ruth Gage-Colby, and I say, “I have your letter and I want you to know that I disagree with your position, but it doesn't shock me. You've always taken this position.” And then I send copies of the correspondence -- the original letter,/which had been sent to the 76 members of Congress and my response to what I call my Jewish list. My Jewish list is about 40 people -- rabbis, community leaders, without comment. And of course there's her name.

So the next day I meet Bella, who hasn't spoken to me for weeks and months. She says to me: “What are you doing? You are ruining me.” (laughs) That's probably unfair to her, but that's the intensity she brings to it. I said, “What's wrong, Bella?” “You sent out that letter. You know that's not my position.” So I said, “I sent out a letter that I received that I think has to be denounced. Don't I have the right to denounce them? Don't I have the right to tell them that that's not my position?” Well, she was furious. Syd Yates came over to me and said, “What did you do to Bella? Bella says you've