Under heavy criticism following the convention, Goldwater met with former president Dwight D. Eisenhower who was attending the convention. This memorandum was written by Eisenhower’s brother Milton, who attended the meeting between Eisenhower and Goldwater. Such memorandums provide an inside look of what goes on behind the scenes in American politics, and often only become available to historians long after the event. Such documents provide perspective that contemporary journalists and pundits often lack at the time.
Memorandum for the Record:July 17, 1964
Prepared by Milton Eisenhower
Meeting in Former President Eisenhower’s Suite, St. Francis Hotel
San Francisco, California
Senator Goldwater and Mr. Denison Kitchel (Campaign Manager) called at General Eisenhower’s apartment at 12:30 noon. The General had retired but put on a robe and came out to greet the two. Milton Eisenhower joined in the Conference.
For ten minutes the conference dealt mostly with pleasantries. . . .
Then General Eisenhower candidly brought up the two critical sentences in the acceptance speech which have caused consternation across the country. With respect to the sentence, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice,” the Senator said that he had many things in mind, such as threatened military action. Thus the use of troops in Lebanon, the war in Vietnam and in similar situations were to be considered extreme measures in defense of freedom.
With respect to the sentence, “Moderation in support of justice is not a virtue,” he explained that he had in mind such things as Bobby Kennedy’s refusal to use the authority of his office in quelling mob action in the United States.
Milton Eisenhower pointed out that the two terms, “extremism” and “moderation” had been so often used in this convention that they could only be interpreted within the context of the convention itself. “Extremism,” therefore, was believed to refer to the beliefs and activities of members of the Birch Society, the Ku Klux Klan, McCarthyites and similar individuals and groups. The term “moderation” was equated with the term “moderate” which referred to the more liberal branches of the Republican Party. Hence, the two critical sentences were construed as support for the right-wing elements of the Party and repudiation of more moderate Republicans.
Senator Goldwater disdained any intention of conveying this meaning. General Eisenhower said it would be incumbent upon the Senator to make clarifying statements, because many moderate leaders had already telephoned him to express dismay and deep concern about this matter.
General Eisenhower also said that since Senator Goldwater is now in command, only he could build the bridges that would unify the Party. The Senator acknowledged the truth of this and indicated that he wished to take steps in this direction.
He went on to say, however that he thought his differences with Governor Rockefeller, Senator Javits, Senator Case and one other (possible Senator Keating) were irreconcilable.
In the entire conversation the Senator was exceedingly pleasant and was obviously trying to obtain and retain the support of General Eisenhower. During the first part of the conversation, Mr. Kitchel was grim, though he was a little more relaxed at the conclusion.
Source: Barry Goldwater Papers, Arizona State University.
Evaluating the Evidence