Barry Goldwater 1964 presidential campaign
The 1964 presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater began when United States Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona elected to seek the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States to challenge incumbent Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. Early on, before officially announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Goldwater was accused[1] by Governor of New York Nelson Rockefeller of attempting to galvanize Southern and Western Republican support while neglecting the industrial northern states, eventually becoming one of Goldwater's primary opponents in the race for the Republican Party's nomination in 1964.
Barry Goldwater for President
- Barry Goldwater
U.S. Senator from Arizona
(1953–1965) - William E. Miller
U.S. Representative for New York's 40th district
(1953–1965)
- Announced: January 3, 1964
- Official nominee: July 16, 1964
- Lost election: November 3, 1964
- Conceded: November 3, 1964
- "A Choice – Not an Echo"
- "In Your Heart You Know He's Right"
Amid growing popularity in the southern states in the early 1960s, Goldwater had been anticipating and looking forward to an "issue-oriented" campaign against Democrat John F. Kennedy, a personal friend of his. Goldwater, who was an aviator by hobby, wished to fly about the country in an attempt to revive whistle stop train tour-style debates. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963 dashed Goldwater's hopes of an election contest between himself and his friend and political rival. Nevertheless, Goldwater officially announced his candidacy for the presidency in January 1964 from the patio of his Arizona home. Following a battle with moderate and liberal Republicans in the Republican primary, such as Nelson Rockefeller and with moderate conservatives such as William Scranton among others, Goldwater won the party's nomination for president.
From the beginning of his campaign, Goldwater fought an uphill battle to unseat an incumbent president under favorable economic circumstances. Goldwater consistently refused to moderate his views, which alienated a significant portion of the more moderate wing of the Republican Party from his campaign. With the assistance of the media, who in large part also had an unfavorable opinion of Goldwater, President Johnson used this fissure in the party to portray him as an extremist.[2] In the general election, Goldwater lost in a landslide to Lyndon Johnson, carrying only six states to Johnson's 44 and 38% of the popular vote to Johnson's 61%. The election marked a turning point in history, as the Republicans carried the Deep South, which was widely considered to be in Democratic territory.[3]
Primary campaign[edit]
'A choice, not an echo'[edit]
On Friday, January 20, 1964, at the planned press conference from the patio of his home in Phoenix,[31] Goldwater, while on crutches as a consequence of a recent medical procedure, officially announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the office of President of the United States.[32] In his campaign announcement speech, Goldwater justified his candidacy by stating that he had "not heard from any announced Republican candidate a declaration of conscience or of political position that could possibly offer to the American people a clear choice in the next presidential election."[33] He emphasized the need for a federal government that is "limited and balanced and against the ever increasing concentrations of authority in Washington"[33] that encourages personal responsibility among American citizens while pledging his candidacy to "victory for principle and to presenting an opportunity for the American people to choose."[33] He promised "a choice, not an echo" in the election, and positioned himself to the right of Nelson Rockefeller,[34] who had announced his candidacy two months prior.[35]
Supporters were excited by the entrance of Goldwater, and predicted that he would take the south from the Democratic column.[36] Two days after the announcement, he appeared on Meet the Press, but was uncomfortable from previous foot surgery. Critics Rowland Evans and Robert Novak noted that even Goldwater supporters deemed the interview a "flop".[37] Hoping to make up for the setback, he left for New Hampshire, beginning a 19-day campaign swing, ahead of the state's March 10 primary. At every stop, including his first major campaign speech at St. Anselm College, Goldwater criticized President Johnson for his liberal policies and expansion of the federal government.[38] He asserted that Johnson was trying to appeal to Washington insiders as a New Deal liberal, while hoping to present himself to the public as a conservative. He argued that Johnson was compelled to continue the programs of the Kennedy administration against his own desires. Goldwater would later, directly discuss the assassination of Kennedy, and remarked that communism was to blame.[39] In a head-to-head match-up with Johnson, Goldwater trailed 20 percent to 75 percent,[40] and his lead over Rockefeller tightened.[41]
Later in January, Goldwater came under fire for a few of his comments. First, while criticizing President Johnson's plans to cut funding to crewed-bombers, he claimed that long-range missiles were "not dependable". Defense Secretary Robert McNamara blasted the remark and accused Goldwater of "damaging the national security".[42] General Curtis LeMay backed Goldwater's claims, and Congressional hearings would later be conducted on missile reliability.[43] Next, Rockefeller took exception[44] to Goldwater's suggestion that it was not beneficial for the United States to remain in the United Nations in the wake of its admittance of communist China.[45] Rockefeller challenged Goldwater to a debate,[44] though Goldwater felt that debating Rockefeller "would be more like debating a member of the New Frontier than...another Republican."[46] Despite the criticism, Goldwater refused to alter his political beliefs, opting to remain consistent with his conservative ideology.[47] Nevertheless, polls at the end of January marked an eight-point decrease in Goldwater's New Hampshire lead from two months previous. He led Rockefeller, 54 percent to 46 percent in the state.[48]
In early February, Goldwater embarked on a campaign tour of Minnesota. During a stop in Minneapolis, he leveled what the Associated Press labeled his "toughest campaign attack on Johnson's foreign policy." He accused the administration of failing in Vietnam and Panama and argued that Johnson was "off making promises to buy votes at home while the world smolders and burns."[49] Afterwards, he arrived in Chicago for a fundraiser and announced his support for a tougher blockade against Cuba.[50] He continued his dialogue on the Cold War during a stop in San Francisco, arguing that the U.S. had no policy on the issue. He proposed an outline to maintain peace that included the encouragement of Communist "eviction from positions of control" in the world, and maintenance of American strength to keep the Soviet Union in check.[51]
Later, Goldwater embarked on a four-day tour of New Hampshire, his last appearance in the state, before his final campaign run ahead of the primary.[52] During the trip, he publicly wondered why "the Rockefeller family wants to do business with...Communist countries",[53] and remarked that he would fire defense secretary McNamara for his insistence that long range missiles were more accurate than crewed bombings. He referred to this as the "stupidest statement" he ever heard from a defense secretary.[54]
Early primaries and state conventions[edit]
At the end of February, Goldwater began to downplay the importance of the New Hampshire Primary, commenting that any result above 35 percent would be a "strong showing" due to the overabundance of candidates such as Senator Margaret Chase Smith. He projected that the June 2 California Primary would be a better test of the strength of the primary field ahead of the national convention in July.[55] He attended the Oklahoma and North Carolina state conventions to campaign for delegates, in the first of several crucial state conventions.[56] While in North Carolina, Goldwater claimed that in order to win the election, the GOP nominee must carry the south. He argued that none of his opponents understood the problems of the south and were therefore un-viable general election candidates. Goldwater won 22 delegates from Oklahoma, but gained none from North Carolina despite winning the convention's endorsement. However, the state's 26 delegates were likely to back Goldwater.[57]
As the New Hampshire primary neared, Rockefeller began to attack Goldwater, claiming he supported a voluntary social security plan that would bankrupt the nation. Goldwater denied the charge.[58] He campaigned in New Hampshire until the primary vote, spending approximately $150,000 as opposed to $250,000 by Rockefeller. Voters grew wary of Goldwater's stances on social security, Cuba, the military and the role of the Federal government, and were likewise turned off by Rockefeller's very public divorce. As a result, the electorate sought out other candidates. Surprisingly,[59] Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. won the primary with 35.5 percent[60] as a write-in candidate while still serving in Vietnam and without making any public appearances in New Hampshire.[59] Goldwater finished in second with 22.3 percent, followed by Rockefeller with 21.0 percent.[60] Neither won any delegates from the primary.[59] The chairman of the Florida GOP attributed the defeat to a divided campaign, which he also witnessed in his state,[61] where party leaders such as Congressman William C. Cramer disagreed over a delegate slate.[62]
After the loss in New Hampshire, Goldwater focused his efforts on California, remarking that it was "the only primary [he was] interested in."[63] He traveled to the state to vie for the endorsement of the 14,000 member California GOP at the party's annual convention. Goldwater won the backing of the party at the convention, increasing the number of volunteers to his California campaign. Rockefeller was angered by the result and declared that the convention had been overrun by radicals.[64] At the end of March, Goldwater traveled to Detroit and continued to criticize defense secretary McNamara, calling him an "all-time loser."[65] Meanwhile, his son, Barry Goldwater Jr. campaigned for his father in Oregon[66] in preparation for the state's May 15 primary.[67]