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Edward KocheEdward Koche
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Session:         Page of 617

of it.

Q:

Was this an agonizing conclusion that you- came to, that you would have to withdraw? Or did you feel that “well, I can make this other issue apparent now.”?

Koch:

No. I made a decision. I'm really quite good at these things. I could be a surgeon -- heartless. (pause in recording)

Q:

This editorial that was referred to was March 31, 1975, and what you were just saying, Ed, was that these decisions weren't difficult for you.

Koch:

No, as I say, I'm like a surgeon in the sense that I know when you have to cut out a cancer, and you cut it out. I came to the conclusion I could not win. It was impossible. I couldn't raise the money, and I'm not going to die a lingering death. And having made that decision, just at that time the New York Times decided they were going to do a profile on me. They were doing it on all the people who were running for mayor. It was Mickie Carrol. We had not made our announcement. I was going to drop out in a week or so. So I said, “Sure.” He wants to go with me, and we go all afternoon and morning, and I don't want to do something that will embarrass him -- he does





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