NEWS CONFERENCE 859

and maybe he's the last crusher against the other man by throwing
in that big bloc of votes to take him over on maybe the first or
second ballot or whatever it is — is certainly doing his state a lot
more favors than the man who commits a large bloc of votes six
months before the convention. So I guess it's all speculative and rela-
tive as to how the individual eventual nominee would feel about who
has helped him most.

Q. Governor, do you feel that the Governors' Conference in Tulsa
should endorse one of the candidates?

A. No, I agree with George Romney when he said right here in
Baltimore — and he also said in Pittsburgh — that he doesn't know
why governors are expected to come in with a consensus candidate
when senators are never expected to provide a consensus candidate,
nor members of the House of Representatives nor any other bloc of
politicians. Governors have individual responsibilities that are based
upon the exigencies of their own state situations. They are pulled
by different forces and even though they are good friends and work
for a common objective nationally, there are many local matters
that apply to their states that may prevent their reaching a consensus.
And it's really not reasonable to expect them to reach a consensus.

(Comptroller Goldstein)

Q. Governor, Mr. Goldstein said yesterday that you tried to get rid
of him in 1966, at the time of the Constitution and that maybe you
are trying to get rid of him now.

A. Well this may be a surprise to some, but I feel personally, I like
Mr. Goldstein as well as I have ever liked anyone I ran into in
politics, as an individual. I think he's a completely charming in-
dividual — he has an excellent sense of humor. I get along with him
— it's a pleasure to be around him. But as I told him yesterday, when
he makes statements to the effect that this is my responsibility and my
tax program and "all I do is ring the cash register, " I think it goes
beyond the real description of the high office of Comptroller. And I
disagree with that. I'm not trying to get him under any stretch of
the imagination. I've got other people who have irritated me far
more than Mr. Goldstein in my political life and —. [Interruption]:

Q. Would you care to name them, Governor?

A. I'll leave that to your imagination. But certainly, no, that's not
true. I'm not trying to get him by any stretch of the imagination.