Barry Goldwater

Barry Goldwater (1909–1998) was an American politician and U.S.

Senator from Arizona who became the Republican presidential nominee in 1964.

His landslide loss to Lyndon Johnson masked his lasting influence: Goldwater's unapologetic conservatism—emphasizing limited government, states' rights, and anti-communism—reshaped the Republican Party and laid groundwork for the Reagan revolution.

His campaign slogan extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice captured his uncompromising stance.

In later years he surprised many by supporting gay rights and criticizing the religious right.

conservatism

right-wing

Politically conservative faction

states' rights · libertarian · traditionalism · capitalism · deregulation · federalism · laissez-faire · pro-business · New Right · ideological

campaign

1964

Mid-sixties year

convention · primaries · Lyndon Johnson · landslide · extremism · defeat · realignment · grassroots · platform · rally

senator

Arizona

48th state admitted

incumbent · military reform · Pentagon · seniority · Phoenix · reelection · retirement · Congress · Capitol Hill · filibuster

maverick

iconoclast

Attacker of cherished beliefs

contrarian · dissenter · unorthodox · blunt · principled · renegade · outsider · free-thinker · challenger · plain-spoken

military

Air Force

Aerial military branch

World War II · aviation · Pentagon · defense · military reform · national security · hawks · Cold War · preparedness · veteran

Opposites
Cold War foreign policy stance

Barry GoldwaterRobert F. Kennedy

dove · peacenik

Republican Party direction

Barry GoldwaterDwight D. Eisenhower

moderate Republican · liberal Republican

Family

water, gold, golden, watershed, waterfowl, goldsmith, goldfinch, barreled, waterborne

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Mostly American · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G