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Anyway I said what I have indicated to you, and there was such a storm of mail denouncing me. The mail went something like this. Generally it would open by saying, “Go back to Israel.” A lot of anti-Semitic mail. Then “coward” -- that kind of mail -- and “un-American.” And it ran overwhelmingly, more than 60%, denunciatory. And that came from our district as well as the rest of the country.

But within a few weeks, because I didn't retreat from my position, there was a change. People were scared to death I would never be re-elected. I have never been frightened about that on anything I've ever done. Within a few weeks the mail began to change and became 60-40 supportive of me in the district.

Then when we took our next poll -- questionnaire in the newsletter we send out -- on a whole host of issues, it was interesting that all of the controversial issues that I was involved in: this received the majority of support, as did everything, but it was the lowest majority. My recollection is that 52% of the people answering the questionnaire in my district supported me on the issue, so it was still a majority position when you think about it. Now, of course, it would be 98%, and those who said “no” then would tell you they didn't say “no” -- they said, “yes.” That's the way things are. People forget their positions. They don't want to be left behind.