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. Before 1964, there had only been one (1956) national Republican convention on the West Coast. Many believed that a convention at San Francisco indicated the rising power of the Republican party in the west.[1]
Contents |
The Republican primaries of 1964 featured liberal Nelson Rockefeller of New York and conservative Barry Goldwater of Arizona as the two leading candidates. Shortly before the California primary, Rockefeller's wife, whom he had just married the previous year soon after divorcing his previous wife, gave birth; this drew renewed attention to his family life which hurt his popularity among conservatives and led to Goldwater winning the primary. An anti-Goldwater organization called for the nomination of Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania, but the effort failed. Although former President Dwight Eisenhower only reluctantly supported Goldwater after he won the nomination, former President Herbert Hoover gave him enthusiastic endorsement. By the end of the primaries, Goldwater’s nomination was all secure.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith's name was entered for nomination at the Convention, the first time a woman's name was entered for nomination at a major party convention.
The Republican National Convention of 1964 was a tension-filled contest. Goldwater's conservatives were openly clashing with Rockefeller's moderates. Goldwater was regarded as the "conservatives' leading spokesman."[2] As a result, Goldwater was not as popular with the moderates and liberals of the Republican party.[3][4] When Rockefeller attempted to deliver a speech, he was booed by the convention's conservative delegates, who regarded him as a member of the "eastern liberal establishment." Despite the infighting, Goldwater was easily nominated. He chose William E. Miller, a Congressman from New York, as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, he declared communism as a "principal disturber of the peace in the world today" and said, "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." Some people, including those within his own campaign staff, believed this weakened Goldwater's chances, as he effectively severed ties with the moderates and liberals of the Republican Party.[5]
Former GOP presidential nominee 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".[6]
Worth noting is that the Keynote Address was given by then actor Ronald Reagan, who had officially become a Republican during the election. Reagan's speech was very well received and it is believed to be the start of his political career; within two years Reagan successfully ran for Governor of California in 1966. Reagan would become the 1980 Republican Nominee and be elected President in a landslide. Reagan's beliefs were considered to be nearly identical to those of Goldwater, and some conservatives joke that Goldwater did win the 1964 election but that it took 16 years to count all of the votes. Goldwater and Reagan had a good friendship during the latter's presidency, and Goldwater referred to Reagan as the best President he ever worked with.
The 1964 Republican Platform was dominated by Goldwater conservatives, which meant the platform was 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.
William E. Miller, an extremely obscure congressman from Western New York, was nominated unanimously on a roll call vote. He was chosen because, as Goldwater remarked: "he drives Johnson nuts."
This was the only Republican convention between 1948 and 2008 that failed to feature a candidate with the surname Nixon, Dole or Bush on the ticket.
| Preceded by 1960 Chicago, Illinois |
Republican National Conventions | Succeeded by 1968 Miami Beach, Florida |