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Edward KocheEdward Koche
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Session:         Page of 617

So there are two things that were involved: one is my own morality -- do I do what is required of any decent citizen notwithstanding the adverse political impact? And, two, do I take into consideration, when you think of that adverse political impact, also the social relationship? Then you get to the broader question of clubbiness. Sure, to some extent. It isn't anything like the Senate, as I'm told about the Senate, because you only have 100 members there. In the House there are 435. I only know the names of maybe 100, where if I saw someone, 100 names would come to my mind that I could identify. The others I know by sight. So it's a less clubby atmosphere and even the 100 that I know by name are not intimate friends. I spend my time down there with maybe a total of ten people, where I see them regularly, so to speak -- at dinners or luncheons.

Q:

You're talking about Congressmen now, Congresspeople.

Koch:

Yes, Congresspeople. I hate the word “Congressperson.” It offends me. I'm a Congressman, and Bella Abzug is a Congresswoman. “Congressperson” offends me.

So there is that aspect to some extent, yes. But it's not Congress -- it's normal human relationships. How do you deal with other people? That's all I can tell you.





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