Barry Goldwater: The Most Consequential Loser

The Heritage Foundation ^ | December 1, 2005 | Lee Edwards

[Fiji Hill]

Barry Goldwater was born on New Years Day in 1909.

Lee Edwards wrote a biography of Ronald Reagan in 1967 as well as a more recent biography of Goldwater--and he's still going strong.

[GSlob]

Well, I'd prefer that Barry Goldwater be still around to write Lee Edwards' biography.

[fallujah-nuker]

I wonder how different recent American history would have been if AUH2O had been elected President. I can only dream about it.....

Not hard to imagine, just picture the Eisenhower years. Ike campaigned for Barry and made a TV appearance with him before the election

[stm]

Barry Goldwater may have been the most consequential loser but without a doubt good ol' Jimmah Cahtah was the most disastrously consequential winner

[dfwgator]

I was told if I voted for Goldwater, that we would have riots in the streets and be in a long unwinnable war. I did, and darned if they weren't right.

[Wolfstar]

...but without a doubt good ol' Jimmah Cahtah was the most disastrously consequential winner.

I would go with Woodrow Wilson on that one, although Carter is certainly right near the top of that list.

[jocon307]

"I was told if I voted for Goldwater, that we would have riots in the streets and be in a long unwinnable war. I did, and darned if they weren't right."

LOL!

[stripes1776]

Lee Edwards wrote a biography of Ronald Reagan in 1967 as well as a more recent biography of Goldwater--and he's still going strong.

Thanks so much for this post--an excellent article. I will read this guy when I get a change.

[stripes1776]

I was told if I voted for Goldwater, that we would have riots in the streets and be in a long unwinnable war. I did, and darned if they weren't right.

You nailed it.

[stripes1776]

I would go with Woodrow Wilson on that one

My knowledge of the Wilson presidency is nil. Could you state in a few words what he did.

[Humidston]

>>...it was Goldwater who gave Reagan the opportunity in the last week of the 1964 campaign to deliver his famous "A Time for Choosing" TV address.<<

That speech literally raised the hairs on the back of my neck! I KNEW Reagan was headed for greatness! In fact, we taped that address on our old reel to reel recorder so we could play it for friends.

If you guys ever get a chance to hear that inspirational speech, you'll understand how far above the crowd that man truly was.

[decal]

"I wonder how different recent American history would have been if AUH2O had been elected President..."

He ran in the wrong year: between mourning for JFK and LBJ's skullduggery, no Republican could have been elected in 1964.

[Prost1]

He convinced me that ideas are important and I became a Goldwater supporter as a teenager. Because of Goldwater, I eventually persuaded my democrat parents to change their registration. Because of Goldwater, California got Reagan and because of Goldwater, the Nation got Reagan.

I remember Reagan's speech in support of Goldwater. Brillant! And the media tried years later to label Reagan as a mental light-weight, just as they have attacked G.W. Bush!

And I remember the sad state of politics when Goldwater ran and who was in the Senate and House. I heard the pigs left because they could not stand the stench!

[Rte66]

I was only 15, but "in my heart, I knew he was right."

[Humidston]

I still have my AUH2O pin. Worked my heart out for him.

*sigh*

[jeremiah]

His ideas live on, but only as campaign promises and dreams of those that continually pull levers for Republicans.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

My knowledge of the Wilson presidency is nil. Could you state in a few words what he did.

Wilson is the godfather of international globalism and domestic socialism.