 On September 14 , Nixon was asked about the Fund by reporter Peter Edson of the Newspaper Enterprise Association after the senator completed an appearance on Meet the Press . The candidate told Edson that the Fund was set up by his supporters to pay political expenses , explained that he had made no effort to find out the names of the donors , and referred Edson to Smith for further information . Edson , and other reporters , did contact Smith , who answered questions about the Fund . Three days later , Nixon 's campaign train , the " Dick Nixon Special " , left Pomona , California , on a whistle @-@ stop campaign tour of the West Coast and Rocky Mountain states . 
