THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
NOTEBOOK
Bits and pieces from the news
BY VICTOR M. BIENSTOCK
Special to The Jewish News
Jews, not Queen Isabella's
fusal to answer questions on the
jewels, financed Christopher Col-
recent Libyan-Moroccan federa-
umbus on is voyage of discovery of
tion announcement and, particu-
the New World, New York in-
larly, if Bush had advance infor-
vestment banker John L. Loeb Jr.,
mation on whether the Qaddafi-
a history buff, reminded readers
Hassan deal was a "Moroccan
double-cross." Bush has been this
of the Wall Street Journal re-
Administration's point-man with
cently.
Loeb was correcting the state-
King Hassan.
ment, "it was a Spanish woman
In the past, says Safire, Bush
who gave Christopher Columbus
has refused to answer such ques-
the money to get here," made in
tions on the grounds that he
an article about the 1992 Colum-
would be violating the confiden-
bus quincentennial. Not so, de-
tiality of his relations with the
President. But, says Safire, ac-
clared Mr. Loeb.
"One of the charming legends
cording to former Secretary of
that has been perpetuated about
State Alexander Haig quoting
Queen Isabella is that she impul-
William Clark, the then national
sively, one might even say gir-
security adviser, Bush was re-
lishly, offered to pawn (or sell —
sponsible for the U.S. vote in the
the stories vary) her jewels to fi-
U.N. Security Council condemn-
nance Columbus on his voyage,"
ing Israel's move into Lebanon.
Further, says Satire, attribut-
Loeb wrote.
"Like so many charming
ing the information to two mem-
legends, this one turns out to be
bers of the National Security
nothing more than that. True,
Council, Bush "was so outraged
Isabella's treasury was nearly
by the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi
empty. But her coffers were
nuclear bomb plant — an action
rapidly filling up with property
that saved millions of human be-
confiscated from departing Jews.
ings from incineration — that Mr.
"In fact, a Jewish professor,
Bush led the charge to punish Is-
Abraham ben Zacuto, introduced
rael by withholding shipment of
Columbus and his officers to the
promised aircraft."
prominent Jewish banker, Don
Bush won't answer questions
Isaac Abravanel, who was one of
about any of these matters, Safire
the first to offer Columbus finan-
complains, but only from the an-
cial backing. When still more
swers to these questions "can we
money was needed, and when
learn if Israel would suffer by his
Isabella was at the point of aban-
elevation to the Presidency."
doning the project for lack of
funds, Abravanel turned to other
SPECIAL TYPEWRITERS —
Jewish bankers, including Luis de
Some Orthodox Jewish house-
Santangel, Gabriel Sanchez and
holds have two dishwashers so
Abraham Senior, who had played
that they can keep their meat and
such an important role in bring-
dairy dishes separate. Nobel Prize
ing Isabella and Ferdinand to the
author Saul .Bellow has two
typewriters to keep his fiction and
altar.
"It was because of these ban-
essays separate.
kers," Loeb explained, "that the
The famed American Jewish
expedition was able to leave Spain
writer "owns two old-fashioned
under the Spanish flag and, as a
Smith Coronas, but they are defi-
result of their part in the under-
nitely not interchangeable," ac-
taking, Columbus' first word back
cording to Carol Sternhell who
to Spain about his discovery was
reported in the New York Times
addressed, not to the queen —
Book Review recently on her in-
which would have been courteous
vestigation into the working
— but to Senores Santangel, San-
habits of those engaged in the
chez and Senior, his bankers —
literary process.
which was practical.
"I don't like to use my fiction
"As a result of these activities,
typewriter for essays," Bellow ex-
Prof. H.P. Adams of Johns Hop-
plains. Like all the authors with
kins has commented: 'Not jewels,
whom Ms. Sternhell spoke, Be-
but Jews, were the real financial
llow makes a distinction between
basis of the first expedition of
his -novels and other writing and
Columbus.' "
does all his writing in the morn-
ing.
FRIEND OR FOE? — Unless
one has an irresistable urge to run
"I generally wake up quite
headlong into a buzzsaw, it is not
early, awakened by thoughts of
advisable to tangle with William
my subject," he told the inter-
Safire, the former Nixon speech
viewer. "I lie there quietly,
Writer and vigorous exponent of
gradually awakening, feeling my
the conservative viewpoint in his
way toward the day's work. I work
tri-weekly Op-Ed page column in
until I am exhausted. I don't
the New York Times. Safire is one
watch the clock, but by one o'clock
of Israel's most alert and effective
I'm generally finished. I have
defenders in Washington, a city
nothing further to say. The prob-
where Israel really needs them.
lem is disposing the rest of the
Safire has crossed swords fre-
day."
quently with Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger over Middle
East policy quesitons, particu-
ISRAELI BEAU BRUMMELS
— Greer Fay Cashman toured the
larly Wenberger's attempt to dis-
tance himself from Israel and to
streets of Jerusalem looking fOr a
position American policy on the
well-dressed man. Accompanied
"moderate" Arabs. Now Safire
by a photographer to record the
has opened fire on Vice President
phenomenon, she walked the
George Bush whom he describes
length and breadth of downtown
as second only to Weinberger in
Jerusalem but "the only truly
urging President Reagan to place
well-dressed men that we saw
his trust in the "moderate" Arabs.
were store-window dummies," she
Safire is incensed by Bush's re-
reported.
Friday, October 26, 1984
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