Born January 1, 1909
Phoenix, Arizona

Died May 29, 1998
Paradise Valley, Arizona

Republican politician and
presidential candidate

Barry Goldwater's campaign for the presidency in 1964 represented an important change in American politics. Goldwater drew national attention to a debate over the role of the federal government. In basic terms, the debate was over the extent to which the federal government should involve itself in solving social problems such as poverty and racism. Although Goldwater lost the presidential election to Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973; served 1963–69; see entry), his candidacy marked the...