Nixon quote from Mailer

Mailer recounts that when Nixon had been defeated in the election for the governor of California in 1962, he addressed the press afterwards saying, "Well, gentlemen... you won't have Nixon to kick any more" (p42).

I think this quote is interesting since Nixon, who is well known for his contempt and distrust of the media, comes off as trying to blame the Press for his loss in the gubernatorial election.  At the same time, it seems as if Nixon was also admitting his defeat to the Press.  As Mailer explains, a lot of people at the time thought this could have marked the end of his political career.  Putting Mailer's depiction of Nixon at the Convention of '68 in this context give the author's skeptical view more credibility. Nixon's attempts at appearing warm and genial seem all the more contrived.