June 3, 1964 - Senator Barry Goldwater, hailing his “great victory” in the California Presidential primary, today declared that he had taken a “giant step” toward winning the Republican nomination.
But, in a statement read in Washington by campaign director Dennison Kitchell, Goldwater cautioned supporters that this was “no time to relax.”
Congratulating Governor Rockefeller for his “tenacious campaign,” Goldwater said hoped Rockefeller would “join with me in resolving to make every effort to unseat the Democrats.”
In a press conference at Goldwater’s campaign headquarters, electric with the feeling of victory, Kitchell said Goldwater’s win was all the more impressive because Goldwater was an underdog and had money troubles, since he could spend only $1 for every $4 spent by Rockefeller.
The Goldwater forces now claim 454 publicly committed first ballot votes in the convention. For nomination, 655 votes are needed. The Senator may virtually wrap up the nomination at Republican state conventions this weekend in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington.
In New York, Governor Rockefeller promised he will remain “loyal to the Republican party” regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, but he shied away from giving a direct pledge to back Goldwater.
“The Republican Party,” said Rockefeller, “to serve our nation and the two-party system, must continue the principles and policies reflected by the 1956 and 1960 platforms if it is going to give the American people an effective alternative to a Democratic Administration.”
Left unclear by the statement was just what Rockefeller will do if Goldwater wins the nomination and refuses to accept a platform modeled on the 1960 pattern, which Goldwater fought four years ago and which he has repeatedly denounced since as not representing true Republican principles.
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