When Rutherford was dying, he called three of his closest"friends" by his side. Fred Franz, Nathan Knorr, and Heyden Covington. He put his hands on their heads and told them to "always stick together." Knorr and Franz had other plans. Covington was Rutherford's boy. Both were lawyers from the south, and loved the booze, they were best friends. Knorr was known as "the brown nose" at Bethel since he always sought Rutherford's favor. To begin with Knorr was made President since he was good at organising. He had been planning for months before Rutherford's death to re-structure the whole organisation. Just a few weeks after the death, he organised The theoractic ministry school, Gilead school, he revived the Circuit and District oversear programe. Covington was made Vice president. How do you get him out of office so Franz can get in? Franz wrote him out! "New light" was published in 1945 saying that all Watchtower board members must be annionted. Covington was not, so....Covington out, Franz moves in. Today the "light" is being reversed! Board members are seperate from the governing body and being annointed is not a major issue. {refer: Proclaimers book page 91 footnote}
What happened to Covington...he continued as Bethels lawyer but started drinking alot, so was asked to leave Bethel, was later disfellowshiped for drinking but re-instated later in life. It was said that he thought these two men had "stabbed him in the back."
Watch 93 12/1 p.18 "Fredrick Franz was a fine example of humility. As vice-president for 32 years, he did much of the writting for the magazines...yet in this regard he always stayed in the background, never seeking to occupy the spot-light." {are we sure about that??}