Nation: Progressive Conservative'

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Richard Nixon went all out. He built up an organization of 75,000 volunteers, traveled more than 50,000 miles, visited 40 of the state's 58 counties, wound up with a four-hour telethon on which he answered questions on 146 subjects. Last week Nixon won his party's nomination for Governor of California. But it was a shadowed victory.

Opponent Joseph C. Shell, Los Angeles oilman and leader of the Republican minority in the state legislature, tuned his campaign to the G.O.P.'s right wing. "I've gotten sick and tired of calling people liberals when they're basically socialists.'' he said. Though not himself a member, Shell welcomed the endorsement of the John Birch Society. Nixon, in contrast, denounced the far-right-wing organization, called upon Republicans to get out of it. After the primary, news commentators called the outcome a "smashing victory on the comeback trail." But with 65% of the vote to Shell's 35%, Nixon had plenty to worry about. His showing was noticeably weaker than that of Republican Senator Thomas H. Kuchel, who in his primary contest for renomination got nearly 80% of the vote against two opponents.

A Start on the Wooing. On the California registration rolls, Democrats outnumber Republicans by roughly three to two. In order to beat Democratic Governor Pat Brown in November, Nixon will, by his own calculations, have to gather in 20% of the Democratic vote and fully 90% of the Republican vote.

On the basis of his primary performance, he is going to have to do some persuasive wooing among hard-Shell G.O.P. conservatives.

Nixon got started on the wooing while the votes were still being counted. He congratulated Shell on fighting a "good battle,'' said that "those who have supported Joe Shell will see that their differences with me are infinitesimal compared with their differences with Brown." Next day Nixon held a joint press conference with San Francisco's beefy, Greek-born Mayor George Christopher, G.O.P. nominee for lieutenant governor. Did the primary results add up to a defeat for the conservatives? a newsman asked. No, said Nixon. "I consider myself a conservative —a progressive conservative." Republicans v. Nixon. Loser Shell predicted that Brown would beat Nixon in November. As to whether he would support Nixon, Shell said Nixon would first have to show dedication to conservative principles, including a "very public commitment" to cut $200 million (about 7%) out of the state budget. But no matter what promises Nixon might make, a good many Shell Republicans want to see him lose in November. His defeat, in their view, would show up the futility of his middle-road approach, help clear the way for conservative domination of the G.O.P.