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Kirk asked the representative and later Senator [[Edward Gurney]] of Winter Park to chair Kirk's gubernatorial inauguration though Gurney had not been involved in the Kirk campaign. By contrast, Cramer was not even asked to serve on the inaugural committee. In 1968, Governor Kirk dispatched his staff to the Republican state convention in [[Orlando]] to push for Cramer's ouster as the state's [[Republican National Committee]]man. Kirk justified his move against Cramer: "I wanted my own man. After all, I was the leader of the party. If Cramer had been the leader of the party, he would have wanted his own man too."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Cramer said that Kirk was attempting to be "not only the governor but the king of the party, and I was about the only person at the time who stood in his way from taking total control."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref>

Kirk asked the representative and later Senator [[Edward Gurney]] of Winter Park to chair Kirk's gubernatorial inauguration though Gurney had not been involved in the Kirk campaign. By contrast, Cramer was not even asked to serve on the inaugural committee. In 1968, Governor Kirk dispatched his staff to the Republican state convention in [[Orlando]] to push for Cramer's ouster as the state's [[Republican National Committee]]man. Kirk justified his move against Cramer: "I wanted my own man. After all, I was the leader of the party. If Cramer had been the leader of the party, he would have wanted his own man too."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Cramer said that Kirk was attempting to be "not only the governor but the king of the party, and I was about the only person at the time who stood in his way from taking total control."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref>

   

   

Despite Kirk's opposition, Cramer attributed his retention in 1968 as national committeeman to the loyalty of organizational Republicans: "I had proved myself an effective congressman. I was on the House leadership as vice chairman of the Republican Conference and was ranking member on the House Public Works Committee."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref.

Despite Kirk's opposition, Cramer attributed his retention in 1968 as national committeeman to the loyalty of organizational Republicans: "I had proved myself an effective congressman. I was on the House leadership as vice chairman of the Republican Conference and was ranking member on the House Public Works Committee."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref>

   

   

In 1988, Cramer recalled a visit twenty-one years earlier to Kirk's office when a former state legislator was denied an appointment with the governor even though the man was a stalwart Republican. According to Cramer, "Kirk made it very clear that he got a great deal of joy in making sure that this guy didn't get an appointment.... He just loved to kick people in the teeth to show how much power he had."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Despite observing this incident, Cramer said that party unity led him to avoid public criticism of Kirk. Cramer viewed Kirk as "his own worst enemy."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Kirk even claimed that he had never had a "serious discussion" on any topic with Cramer.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirl," p. 409.</ref> Walter Wurfel (c. 1937-2018), a Floridian who was later the deputy press secretary for U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], termed Kirk's election  "the worst thing that could have happened to the Republicans. He wasn't interested in the Republican Party; party was a matter of convenience for him."<ref>Alexander P. Lamis, ''The Two-Party South'' (New York, 1984), p. 292.</ref>

In 1988, Cramer recalled a visit twenty-one years earlier to Kirk's office when a former state legislator was denied an appointment with the governor even though the man was a stalwart Republican. According to Cramer, "Kirk made it very clear that he got a great deal of joy in making sure that this guy didn't get an appointment.... He just loved to kick people in the teeth to show how much power he had."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk, p. 409.</ref> Despite observing this incident, Cramer said that party unity led him to avoid public criticism of Kirk. Cramer viewed Kirk as "his own worst enemy."<ref>"Cramer v. Kirk," p. 409.</ref> Kirk even claimed that he had never had a "serious discussion" on any topic with Cramer.<ref>"Cramer v. Kirl," p. 409.</ref> Walter Wurfel (c. 1937-2018), a Floridian who was later the deputy press secretary for U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], termed Kirk's election  "the worst thing that could have happened to the Republicans. He wasn't interested in the Republican Party; party was a matter of convenience for him."<ref>Alexander P. Lamis, ''The Two-Party South'' (New York, 1984), p. 292.</ref>