Mitch Daniels! Remember him? Used to be governor of Indiana, mused about running for President, big favorite of the Republican establishment. He's now the president of Purdue University. Turns out he also tried his best to ban some books!

The AP this week released emails from 2010 between then-governor Daniels and his staff, in which Daniels rants and raves against the writings of Howard Zinn, whose A People's History of the United States is considered a classic.... of leftist anti-American garbage, that is! Via Inside Higher Ed:

Shortly after Zinn died in 2010, Daniels e-mailed various education officials about Zinn, the AP said. His e-mail said: "This terrible anti-American academic has finally passed away. The obits and commentaries mentioned his book A People’s History of the United States is the ‘textbook of choice in high schools and colleges around the country.’ It is a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every page. Can someone assure me that it is not in use anywhere in Indiana? If it is, how do we get rid of it before more young people are force-fed a totally false version of our history?"

Daniels, now the president of a major university where Zinn's book is taught, added ""This crap should not be accepted for any credit by the state." Today, Daniels told Inside Higher Ed that "there was 'no implication for academic freedom' from his inquiries." Got it?

Apply to Purdue University now.

[Inside Higher Ed. Photo: AP]