Word: knights
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Search of Fun. As a lawyer, Goodie was always prosperous. In 1925 he formed a partnership in Los Angeles with Tom Reynolds, a Stanford classmate. By the time the firm was dissolved in 1934. Knight and Reynolds reportedly had the largest practice in California. But as his legal fees rose, Knight's interest in his business declined. Besides, he was independently wealthy from his mining interests. "After we got prestige, we couldn't afford to accept cases from little people who needed our help. We didn't have any fun." In search of fun, Goodie quit...
...Goodie Knight, the only way out was up. As a judge, he had been quite successful (only 14 reversals in 7,000 decisions), but soon he began to make political noises. If he had a speaking engagement, he simply adjourned court early. In California, as in many states, there are laws about judges dabbling in politics, and it was not long before Democrats and his fellow judges complained about Knight's political activities. But Goodie knew the letter of the law. "Sure, they prohibited it," he snapped, "but they didn't make it illegal...
Knowing the full value of publicity, Goodie took on a couple of radio shows, including one tearjerker, an airing of personal problems known as "Knight Court" ("It was better than Mr. Anthony"). In 1946 Goodie turned his back on the bench, employed the formidable public-relations firm of Whitaker & Baxter (which taught Earl Warren to smile) and ran for lieutenant governor. Goodie gave the voters a sizzling exhibition of stumping and easily slid past his Democratic opponent on election day. But in Sacramento, he discovered that his job was no more exciting than being a judge. As presiding officer...
...Caldecott: "I get up every morning, go out on the front porch, unfold the paper, look at the biggest headline and fold it up again. The only news a lieutenant governor of California could possibly be interested in would be that headline." Goodie and Warren got along tolerably, but Knight was never a real member of the Warren team. On a few issues, e.g., Warren's state health-insurance program and F.E.P.C., Knight openly differed with his chief, but the two were closer politically than many Californians suspected...
Through the years, Knight had collected a large following of right-wingers who were opposed to the liberal Warren policies and who figured Goodie was their Knight in armor. Goodie rarely discouraged the reactionaries until he became governor. Then he announced: "I guess the state is just going to have to get used to the fact that I'm no Joe McCarthy." In 1948, when Earl Warren was the vice-presidential candidate, Goodie decided his time had come. His dismay on the day after the election was acute. "If you think Tom Dewey and Governor Warren are disappointed...