1964 Republican National Convention

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The 1964 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States took place in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, on July 13 to July 16, 1964.

1 Political context
2 The Convention
3 The Platform
4 Candidates for the nomination

[edit] Political context

Further information: United States presidential election, 1964

The Republican primaries in 1964 had been a battle between New York liberal Nelson Rockefeller and Arizona conservative Barry Goldwater. The divorce and remarriage of Rockefeller shortly before the California primary hurt him among the western conservatives and made Goldwater the winner of the primary. A stop-Goldwater group tried to put forward the candidacy of Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton but failed. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower reluctantly endorsed Goldwater; however, the Arizona Senator got an enthusiastic support from former President Herbert Hoover, who died later in 1964. Thus, the Goldwater nomination was secured.

[edit] The Convention

Goldwater was nominated in the Cow Palace, San Francisco, July 1964 with Conservative New York Representative William E. Miller as running mate. In his acceptance address he among other said that "we brand Communism as a principle disturber of peace in the world today". But more famously (and corrupted by President Johnson) he said that "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue". When Rockefeller tried to make a speech he was booed by the convention delegates, which was substanced by conservatives (who deplored Rockefeller) as a member of "the eastern liberal establishment". Rockefeller remarked to the delegates it still was a free country. Representative Gerald R. Ford tried to nominate Michigan Governor George W. Romney for the nomination but failed.

Former GOP presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon introduced the Arizonan as "Mr Conservative" and "Mr Republican" and he continued that "he is the man who, after the greatest campaign in history will be Mr President — Barry Goldwater". Fortunately for Nixon, Goldwater lost the election in a landslide.

[edit] The Platform

The 1964 Republican Platform was dominated by Goldwater conservatives, which made the platform dominated by calls for limited government, condemnations of the Kennedy and Johnson foreign and domestic policy, calls for more open space for free enterprise, a hard-line against Communist North Vietnam, calls for reform of the United Nations, a staunch support of NATO, calls for lower taxes and a hard-line against international Communism.