2003.53.1

The seat cushion is gold in color, on which is printed a picture of Barry Goldwater. On the left side of Barry's face it says in bold, black type "A Choice Not An Echo." Below his face his first name [Barry] is written in black script, with his surname [Goldwater] in black shadow box letters.

Barry Morris Goldwater (January 1, 1909 - May 29, 1998) was an American politician and figurehead of the modern conservative movement in the United States. He was the Republican candidate for the Presidency in the 1964 election, losing to Lyndon Johnson. Before Goldwater, the Republican Party was not clearly committed to political conservatism. He alarmed even some of his fellow partisans with his brand of staunch fiscal conservatism and militant anti-Communism. After boldly declaring in a 1964 speech that "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice ...", Goldwater was painted as a dangerous figure by the incumbent Johnson administration, which countered Goldwater's slogan "In your heart, you know he's right" with the line "In your guts, you know he's nuts." Goldwater garnered only thirty-nine percent of the election day vote, but he changed the Republican Party forever. The 1964 Republican Convention was held at the Cow Palace, in San Francisco, July 13-16, 1964, resulting in the nomination of Barry Goldwater for president with William Miller for vice president.

Used: Republican Convention | 1964 presidential campaign | Barry Goldwater