Nov. 7, 1962 - At 10 a.m. this morning, Richard M. Nixon sent this telegram to Democratic Governor Edmund G. Brown, who had just defeated him in the election: “Congratulations on your reelection as Governor. I wish you the best in your great honor and opportunity which you now have to lead the first state in the nation.” About 10 minutes later, the failed candidate made an appearance before 100 newsmen at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that was remarkable in its candor and bitterness. Mr. Nixon looked very tired and drawn. His voice quavered at several points in what turned out to be less a press conference than a 15-minute monologue. He said that newspapers had “attacked me” ever since the Alger Hiss case of 1948. He accused reporters of habitually slanting articles toward “the candidate they think should win.” “Just think how much you’re going to be missing — you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore,” he said. Governor Brown, after watching Mr. Nixon’s statement to the press on television, was overheard to remark to Mrs. Brown: “This is something that Nixon is going to regret all his life. The press is never going to let him forget it.” However, when a reporter asked Governor Brown if he thought Mr. Nixon’s political career was finished, he replied: “I don’t think so.” He did not elaborate.
