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First District Republican Chairman [[James B. Edwards]], an oral surgeon from [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], claimed that West had worked covertly in 1969 against the nomination of Clement Furman Haynsworth (1912-1989) to the United States Supreme Court. The Nixon nominee failed in the U.S. Senate, fifty-five to forty-five, with some Republican opposition, on grounds of alleged bias against organized labor. Edwards predicted that West would install "an ultra-liberal, minority-dominated state government," citing the nominees ties to Hubert Humphrey and Roy Wilkins.<ref>''Charleston News and Courier,'' September 25, 1970.</ref>

First District Republican Chairman [[James B. Edwards]], an oral surgeon from [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], claimed that West had worked covertly in 1969 against the nomination of Clement Furman Haynsworth (1912-1989) to the United States Supreme Court. The Nixon nominee failed in the U.S. Senate, fifty-five to forty-five, with some Republican opposition, on grounds of alleged bias against organized labor. Edwards predicted that West would install "an ultra-liberal, minority-dominated state government," citing the nominees ties to Hubert Humphrey and Roy Wilkins.<ref>''Charleston News and Courier,'' September 25, 1970.</ref>

Edwards' principal political experience had been an unsuccessful race for Congress in 1971 against the Democrat Mendel Jackson Davis (1942-2007). In 1975, Edwards became West's successor as governor, the first Republican of the 20th century in the position. Despite the rhetoric of the 1970 campaign, West and Edwards later set aside partisan differences and became warm friends. In 1981, Edwards joined the incoming [[Ronald W. Reagan]] administration as [[United States Secretary of Energy|secretary of energy]] at the time that West was stepping down as [[United States Ambassador]] to [[Saudi Arabia]] in the Carter administration.

Edwards' principal political experience had been an unsuccessful race for Congress in 1971 against the Democrat Mendel Jackson Davis (1942-2007). In 1975, Edwards became West's successor as governor, the first Republican of the 20th century in the position. Despite the rhetoric of the 1970 campaign, West and Edwards later set aside partisan differences and became warm friends. In 1981, Edwards joined the incoming [[Ronald W. Reagan]] administration as [[United States Secretary of Energy|secretary of energy]] at the time that West was stepping down as United States Ambassador to [[Saudi Arabia]] in the Carter administration.

   

   

West and Watson argued as well over lesser issues, such as state aid for municipal sewer projects, a state college for Rock Hill and also anti-pollution guidelines.<ref>''Charleston News and Courier'', September 24, 1970; ''Columbia State'' and ''Aiken Standard'', September 9, 1970.</ref>Watson vowed if elected to sell the $600,000 governor's jet, which cost more than $150,000 per year to operate, but West countered that the plane is needed for industrial recruitment.<ref>''Charlotte Observer,'' October 7, 1970; ''Columbia State,'' September 9 and October 17, 1970; ''Aiken Standard,'' September 9, 1970.</ref>

West and Watson argued as well over lesser issues, such as state aid for municipal sewer projects, a state college for Rock Hill and also anti-pollution guidelines.<ref>''Charleston News and Courier'', September 24, 1970; ''Columbia State'' and ''Aiken Standard'', September 9, 1970.</ref>Watson vowed if elected to sell the $600,000 governor's jet, which cost more than $150,000 per year to operate, but West countered that the plane is needed for industrial recruitment.<ref>''Charlotte Observer,'' October 7, 1970; ''Columbia State,'' September 9 and October 17, 1970; ''Aiken Standard,'' September 9, 1970.</ref>