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recalling correctly, unexpectedly withdrew from contention in December of 1959, the very day the NEW YORK TIMES had a front- page piece. It was the very day that the NEW YORK TIMES front page did a report by its respected Albany correspondent, saying that Rockefeller undoubtedly would announce for the nomination. He was not formally in contention, but was out in the Midwest primary states, and as I recall, he got such adverse reaction from his own party in the area that caused Wendell Wilkie to withdraw from his second effort for a nomination, that he said he would not stand as a candidate for the nomination in 1960. That's my recollection. So this would fit with what you just said.

I remember Jackie Robinson-- he was close to Jackie, and Jackie ked me if I would go down and talk with Nelson. And I went down and into his office in the Fifties and I'll never forget something he said that I thought was so typically. Rockefeller. He said, “You know, Jackie-- Kenneth-- my problem is I'm too honest to be a politician.” I laughed inside, I think. I don't know whether I laughed outside.

But I liked that sort of quality of his.

And was he probably referring to an intellectual honesty there, not a financial honesty?

No. He meant that he would say what he thinks, you know. And to a large extent I think that was true, that he did have a tendency to say what he thought. I don't think he was totally honest in that nse. He was more so than most politicians.