Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-05
observation-disclosures OfferineJob
To Lure Him From California Race

Goodwin j. Knight has named
Los Angeles financier j. How
ard Edgerton as the man he
says tried to lure him out of
the 1862 Governors race.
- Mr.. Knight. CALIFORNIA; Gov
ernor from 1953-1958. said Mr..
Edgerton acted on behalf of
former Vice President Nixon.
now locked in a bitter struggle
with Mr. Knight for the Re-
publican gubernatorial nomi-
nation. Mr.. Nixon and Mr..
Edgerton denied the accusation.
Eogerton, president of the Cali
fornia Federal Savings & Loan
Association, denied the accusa-
ton.
Robert Finch, campaign
manager for Mr.. Nixon last
year. meanwhile today said
Mr.. Knight tried to deal Mr..
Nixon out of this years contest.
Mr.. Finch said that Mr..
Knight proposed. if elected
Governor, to swing the 1864
California Republican preSi-
Dental delegation to Mr.. Nixon
if the former Vice President
would stay out of the guberna-
torial race.
Mr.. Finch said that Mr..
Knight offered the delegation
deal last August. but that Mr..
Nixon told him it was too early
TO talk about the 1864 presi-
Dental race.
When Mr. Knight announced
his gubernatorial candidacy
September IL he said that. if
he were elected and Mr.. Nixon
desired, he would head a presi-
Dental delegation for Mr..
Nixon in 1864. But his state
ment then did not include any
reference to Mr.. Nixon staying
out of the governorship race.
Mr.. Knight denied today that
he had proposed the deal for
Mr.. Nixon to stay out.
Mr.. Knight. "a. silverhaired.
robust and unSmiling. told a
news conference yesterday that:
Mr.. Nixon told Mr.. Knight
that Mr.. Edgerton would con-
tact him on Mr.. Nixon's behalf,
and that Mr.. Edgerton later Of
fered him. Mr.. Knight, any
State job he wanted-up to
chief justice of CALIFORNIA; Su-
preme Court-if he would with
draw.
Mr.. Knight had made the
charges before-but had not
identified Mr.. Edgerton until
yesterday. He also presented to
reporters, his wife Virginia and
Sacramento Attorney Paul
Mason, Mr.. Knights former
State motor vehicle director.
Both said they overheard the
September 8 telephone call
when the alleged offer was
made.
Mrs. Knight told reporters:
My husband is telling the
truth" 7
Mr.. Mason said Mr.. Knight
was quoting exactly what
Edgerton said"
Version Of Events
Mr.. knight gave this version
of the sequence of events lead
ing to the September 8 phone
call:
June 20, l961-Mr. Knight
met Mr.. Nixon at Los Angeles
reception. Mr.. Nixon said: Il
still want to have a talk with
you"
July l0 or l9-Mr. Edgerton
phoned Mr.. Knight, said Mr.. ,
Nixon has asked Mr.. Edgerton
10 talk with Mr. Knight about
Mr.. Knights plans.
July 2l-Mr. Knight and Mr..
Edgerton met. Mr.. Knight told
him he'd run for Governor.
July 29-Mr. Knight and Mr.. 1.
Nixon talked briefly. Mr.. Nixon
said: You will be hearing from
Howard Edgerton very soon"
Sometime later-Mr. Edger-
ton invited Mr.. Knight to lunch
with him August 3. Mr.. Edger-
ton told Mr.. Knight that Mr..
Nixon doesn't want to run.
August 7-Mr. Knight, Mr..
Nixon and Mr.. Edgerton met
at Mr.. Nixon's home. Mr.. Nixon
said he doesn't want to run for
Governor, believes Mr.. Knight /
could be elected. says he will
indorse him. Mr.. Nixon said
he'll communicate with Mr..
Knight thereafter only through
Mr.. Edgerton.
September 7-Mr. Edgerton
tried to call Mr.. Knight, who
was in Sacramento. but could
not reach him.
September 8-Mr. Knight re-
turned Mr.. Edgerton's call, got
alleged offer, signaled his wife
and Mr.. Mason to listen in on
the phone conversation. .
Denies Offering Deal
Mr.. Edgerton. a former
Knight supporter, acknowledged
that Mr.. Knight had called him
from Sacramento September 8.
But as for offering any deal, .
. he said in a public letter to Mr..
Knight, "Goodie. this just
simply is not the fact. Any
statement that I made in the
conversation was completely
without Dick Nixon's knowledge
and certainly without any
authority.
1T was merely my personal
effort to try and prevent an
LOST
BILLFOLD, lady's. lost on Mass ave