I think he was just at the end of his rope with Stone. He probably saw his upcoming election as a new phase of his life, and he didn't want Stone to be a part of it. Also, he probably felt that firing Stone or killing him after the election would create a scandall early in his career and he didn't want that, he was probably also concerned that Harry would cause problems for him if he fired him after the election. With the current publicity about the threats he probably saw this as the perfect opportunity to get rid of Stone and start his new career without any burdens from the past. I think Cooper is great in this and it's one of my favorites.

And Ken Swafford was great in it. He, of course, also played the (deliberately) stereotypical ' 40s reporter on Ellery Queen (also made by Levinson and Link). And he's entertaining in any number of other things I can think of. One of those actors who play (sort of) the same character over and over, but keep making it entertaining.

Yea I saw him on Rockford Files recently. He played a stereotypical hard-nose cop who was giving Jim a hard time. Hilarious.

I don't think he murdered him just so he could be with the secretary, and firing him was not an option, remember that Stone made the comment, "you don't need anybody but me, and you can get rid of anybody but me cause I know where the bodies are buried Nelson I buried em for ya!"

No, the only way he could get Stone out of his life was to kill him, I guess he could not face a future with Stone always knowing his every move. Not that I am condoning it, but if he was party to murders in the past I can see why one more wouldn't bother him much.

sandy, i believe when harrry stone says.."you don't need anybody but me, and you can get rid of anybody but me cause I know where the bodies are buried Nelson I buried em for ya!"...that he is just saying that figuatively. it's not that nelson hayward actually committed other murders in the past. i believe harry was actually referring to the past discretions of hayward...lying, cheating, stepping on people to get ahead, and those sorts of things.

(that's just my opinion )

i agree, i asumed that he hadn't actually killed anyone but that harry knew his secrets from the past, suppose they could have been very damaging though...