Mitch Daniels denied allegations made in a previous report that he demanded a book written by Howard Zinn to be removed from Indiana colleges, the Associated Press reported.

The previous report, also made by the Associated Press, was the result of a freedom of information act request. The report, published Tuesday, detailed numerous rapid e-mail exchanges were Daniels said various "liberal propaganda" needed to be removed from K-12 schools and colleges.

Daniels responded to those allegations Wednesday saying the previous story was "unfair and erroneous."

He told the reporters Wednesday that he only wanted Zinn's book, "A People's History of the United States," removed from K-12 school and denied wanting it banned from colleges.

"This terrible anti-American academic has finally passed away," Daniels wrote in an e-mail exchange in 2010 with education officials. "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."

Daniels said in an e-mail statement to the AP Tuesday that his comments were focused on K-12 schools. In a response from David Shane, a top fund raiser and state school board member replied to one message with a strategy to remove such books from the school system.

He suggested a statewide review of course material.

"Disqualify propaganda and highlight (if there is any) the more useful offerings," Shane wrote. "Don't the ed schools have at least some substantive PD (professional development) courseware to upgrade knowledge of math, science, etc.?"

Daniels did not respond to the AP's request to point out the erroneous parts of their story Tuesday, but he did reiterate his defense at Wednesday's press event.

He said if Zinn had tenure at Purdue, "I would defend him and his rights not to be dismissed for the nature of his work."