TLS, one page, 7 x 9, The Vice President letterhead, October 26, 1984. Letter to “Alex,” an unidentified editorialist, in full: “In your penetrating commentary of October 15th you said ‘I know that George Bush care nothing for my opinion.’ That is not so. You editorialized about a comment that I made in private—at least I thought so—to a person on the docks in New Jersey. I have been in politics a long time, and I guess I should have learned that if someone can eavesdrop electronically or other wise you are fair game. I never used the words that offended you in a public way—and no matter how hard the press has goaded me to state the words in public I have not so done. I have not become cynical, but neither, I hope have I become the prime hypocrite. I do not use that expression in competition. It is not sexist and in sporting vernacular at least it is not offensive. I expect each of us, maybe even you, has said things in private that he doesn’t regret but that he would not say in public. Such is the case with my remark. I do appreciate your very kind words about Barbara. She, too has come under unconscionable fire. I just want you to know that I had read your commentary, have taken your comments to heart, but cannot be hypocritical by trying to weasel out of what happened. I have not changed, believe me.” In very fine condition.
The day after his debate with Democratic VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro on October 11, 1984, Bush boasted to an official of the International Longshoreman's Association that he had ‘tried to kick a little ass’ in the contest with the New York congresswoman. The comment went down famously along the docks of Elizabeth, N.J., where about 2,000 laborers in shirt sleeves cheered on the Republican VP, but a few hundred miles and two hours later, in Birmingham, Alabama, Bush faced the challenge of explaining his choice of words, which had been recorded by a television crew's boom microphone.
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