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Nixon secured an easy primary victory: 1,285,151 votes (65.4 percent) to Shell's 656,542 (33.4 percent),<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, p. 1549.</ref>but he did not immediately consult Shell to seek rapprochement with the conservative wing of the party. Thereafter, he declared that "those who have supported Joe Shell will see that their differences with me are infinitesimal compared with their differences with Brown."<ref name=timem>{{cite web|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,873594,00.html?promoid=googlep|title=Nation: "Progressive Conservative"|publisher=''[[Time]]'' magazine|date=June 15, 1962|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref> Shell first demanded that Nixon agree to trim state spending by at least $200 million (then 7 percent of the state budget) and to "espouse conservatism" as the price of his endorsement. He asked to be able to name a third of the delegates to the next national convention and to name the party's vice-chairman.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 17, 1962, p. 60.</ref>When a considerable number of Shell's Assembly colleagues objected to the demands that he imposed on the basis of having polled only a third of the primary vote, Shell relented and agreed to endorse Nixon and the entire Republican ticket, including liberal Senator Kuchel.  

Nixon secured an easy primary victory: 1,285,151 votes (65.4 percent) to Shell's 656,542 (33.4 percent),<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, p. 1549.</ref>but he did not immediately consult Shell to seek rapprochement with the conservative wing of the party. Thereafter, he declared that "those who have supported Joe Shell will see that their differences with me are infinitesimal compared with their differences with Brown."<ref name=timem>{{cite web|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,873594,00.html?promoid=googlep|title=Nation: "Progressive Conservative"|publisher=''[[Time]]'' magazine|date=June 15, 1962|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref> Shell first demanded that Nixon agree to trim state spending by at least $200 million (then 7 percent of the state budget) and to "espouse conservatism" as the price of his endorsement. He asked to be able to name a third of the delegates to the next national convention and to name the party's vice-chairman.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 17, 1962, p. 60.</ref>When a considerable number of Shell's Assembly colleagues objected to the demands that he imposed on the basis of having polled only a third of the primary vote, Shell relented and agreed to endorse Nixon and the entire Republican ticket, including liberal Senator Kuchel.  

Having himself declared for governor before Nixon entered the race, Shell viewed his opponent as an opportunist who would use the governorship as a springboard to a second presidential campaign. Some of Shell's most conservative backers questioned Nixon's membership in the liberal [[Council on Foreign Relations]], but Nixon was a strong critic of the [[John Birch Society]], whose members Shell thought should be allowed to remain active in the party though its founder [[Robert Welch]] had questioned whether former President [[Diwght D. Eisenhower]], under whom Nixon had served, was an agent of the "communist conspiracy."<ref>[[Patrick Buchanan]], ''The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose from Defeat to Create the New Majority'' ([[New York City]]: Crown Forum, 2014), pp. 11-12; ISBN: 978-0-533-41863-7.</ref>According to [[Pat Buchanan|Patrick J. Buchanan]], Nixon's long-term aide, the former vice president long blamed  Shell's candidacy as a leading factor in Nixon's defeat by Pat Brown in the gubernatorial general election.<ref>Patrick Buchanan, ''Nixon's White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever'', (New York City: Crown Forum, 2017), pp. 46, 228, 239; ISBN:978-1-101-90284-4.</ref>  

Having himself declared for governor before Nixon entered the race, Shell viewed his opponent as an opportunist who would use the governorship as a springboard to a second presidential campaign. Some of Shell's most conservative backers questioned Nixon's membership in the liberal [[Council on Foreign Relations]], but Nixon was a strong critic of the [[John Birch Society]], whose members Shell thought should be allowed to remain active in the party though its founder, [[Robert Welch]], was a critic of former [[U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], under whom Nixon had served, was an agent of the "communist conspiracy."<ref>[[Patrick Buchanan]], ''The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose from Defeat to Create the New Majority'' ([[New York City]]: Crown Forum, 2014), pp. 11-12; ISBN: 978-0-533-41863-7.</ref>According to [[Pat Buchanan|Patrick J. Buchanan]], Nixon's long-term aide, the former vice president long blamed  Shell's candidacy as a leading factor in Nixon's defeat by Pat Brown in the gubernatorial general election.<ref>Patrick Buchanan, ''Nixon's White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever'', (New York City: Crown Forum, 2017), pp. 46, 228, 239; ISBN:978-1-101-90284-4.</ref>  

Two leading liberal Repubicans refused to support Nixon: Kuchel and former Lieutenant Governor Harold J. Powers, who had served under former Governor [[Goodwin J. Knight]], who, had his health permitted, would have also run again for governor that year. Nixon also declined to endorse Kuchel for reelection in 1962.<ref name=draftgoldwater/> Powers was particularly critical of what he called Nixon's "cheap attempt to win votes" during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], which occurred near the end of the campaign.<ref>''The New York Times'', October 26, 1962, p. 12.</ref> It was unclear what Powers meant, because Nixon had hailed Kennedy's handling of the crisis.<ref>''The New York Times'', October 27, 1962.</ref> Nixon's interest in the Cuban crisis during a gubernatorial race revealed to home-state voters that his concern lay with foreign affairs, rather than California domestic matters, a situation which worked to Brown's advantage.

Two leading liberal Repubicans refused to support Nixon: Kuchel and former Lieutenant Governor Harold J. Powers, who had served under former Governor [[Goodwin J. Knight]]. Had his health permitted, Powers would have also run again for governor in 1962. Nixon also declined to endorse Kuchel's successful reelection bid in 1962.<ref name=draftgoldwater/> Powers was particularly critical of what he called Nixon's "cheap attempt to win votes" during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], which occurred near the end of the campaign.<ref>''The New York Times'', October 26, 1962, p. 12.</ref> It was unclear what Powers meant, because Nixon had hailed Kennedy's handling of the crisis.<ref>''The New York Times'', October 27, 1962.</ref> Nixon's interest in the Cuban crisis during a gubernatorial race revealed to home-state voters that his concern lay with foreign affairs, rather than California domestic matters, a situation which worked to Brown's advantage.

The [[Massachusetts]]-based [[John Birch Society]] became an issue in California politics in 1962 as well, as three JBS members, including Representative [[John H. Rousselot]], fought unsuccessfully for seats in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Nixon was critical of the society's founder, [[Robert Welch]], an erstwhile supporter of the late U.S. Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]], who had declared U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], Taft's 1952 nomination opponent under whom Nixon had served as vice president, to have been a "dedicated, conscious agent of the [[communist]] [[conspiracy]]". State Republicans in their convention approved a watered-down resolution condemning the society leadership but not its rank-and-file. Shell was not affiliated with the JBS but opposed any attempts to remove society members from party activities.<ref>''The New York Times'', January 15, 1962, p. 14; January 19, 1962, p. 18.</ref> Nixon supporters claimed that Shell partisans sat out the gubernatorial contest and enabled Brown to win a second term. Conservatives, however, disputed that assertion. Henry Salvatori, a southern California conservative operative, had convinced Shell to endorse Nixon.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 22, 1962, p. 30.</ref> Conservatives claimed that they labored unenthusiastically for Nixon, but it was liberal Republicans, such as Kuchel and Powers, whose refusal to endorse him in the general election that proved decisive. Moreover, Nixon did not draw sufficient Democratic support in a state in which the GOP was in the minority by registration.<ref name=draftgoldwater/>

The [[Massachusetts]]-based John Birch Society became an issue in California politics in 1962 as well, as three JBS members, including Representative [[John H. Rousselot]], fought unsuccessfully for seats in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Nixon was critical of the society's founder, Robert Welch, an erstwhile supporter of U.S. Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]], who had declared Dwight Eisenhower, Taft's 1952 nomination opponent under whom Nixon had served as vice president, to have been a "dedicated, conscious agent of the [[communist]] [[conspiracy]]". State Republicans in their convention approved a watered-down resolution condemning the society leadership but not its rank-and-file. Shell was not affiliated with the JBS but opposed any attempts to remove society members from party activities.<ref>''The New York Times'', January 15, 1962, p. 14; January 19, 1962, p. 18.</ref> Nixon supporters claimed that Shell partisans sat out the gubernatorial contest and enabled Brown to win a second term. Conservatives, however, disputed that assertion. Henry Salvatori, a southern California conservative operative, had convinced Shell to endorse Nixon.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 22, 1962, p. 30.</ref> Conservatives claimed that they labored unenthusiastically for Nixon, but it was liberal Republicans, such as Kuchel and Powers, whose refusal to endorse him in the general election that proved decisive. Moreover, Nixon did not draw sufficient Democratic support in a state in which the GOP was in the minority by registration.<ref name=draftgoldwater/>

Though Nixon had attacked the JBS, he brought up the question of communist infiltration into government, including the California state government under Brown. He vowed to remove any employees found to be communist agents.<ref>''The New York Times'', September 14, 1962, p. 21.</ref>

Though Nixon had attacked the JBS, he brought up the question of communist infiltration into government, including the California state government under Brown. He vowed to remove any employees found to be communist agents.<ref>''The New York Times'', September 14, 1962, p. 21.</ref>