Sept. 3, 1964 - Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, the Republican Presidential nominee, formally began his campaign today in Prescott, Ariz., with a promise to act only compassionately and gradually in putting his conservative principles into effect if he is elected.
He said that present social-welfare and economic commitments to the public, “whether explicit or implicit,” must be honored.
“Good faith,” he continued, “requires that we not disappoint reasonable expectations based on those commitments.”
The Senator also pledged that he would end Selective Service “as soon as possible” and that he would keep the country out of war.
Despite some tough talk in his opening speech of the formal campaign, Goldwater appeared to be trying to calm fears that some voters may have about his economic conservatism and his foreign policy.
Goldwater spoke in the courthouse square of this town of 15,000 persons, where his grandfather and uncles were pioneer merchants in the last century. The third Goldwater retail store to stand in Prescott since the first opened in 1876 stood across the street to his right as he spoke.
The Senator’s speech was received enthusiastically by a crowd estimated at 6,000, far below city officials’ expectations of a crowd of 20,000. Store fronts and the courthouse plaza were draped with bunting for the Senator’s appearance. Behind Goldwater hung a huge American flag.
Goldwater stood on the same spot where he opened his first Senate campaign in 1952.
The Republican Vice-Presidential candidate, Rep. William E. Miller of New York, was also present. He said in a brief speech that “the people of this land have had enough of being mauled and made to yelp like helpless beagles on the White House lawn.”
“Two months from this day, these same voters will have Mr. Johnson by the ears,” he added.
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