Toledano, James

Biography

On January 1, 1909, Barry Morris Goldwater was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Baron and Josephine Goldwater nearly three years before Arizona became the forty-eighth state.

In 1923, Goldwater began attending Phoenix Union High School. After a poor academic showing, his father enrolled him at Staunton Military Academy, a military school located in Staunton, Virginia. In his senior year at the academy, Goldwater received the coveted Kable Medal, an honor awarded to the outstanding all-around cadet. After graduating from Staunton in 1928, Goldwater returned to Arizona and enrolled at the University of Arizona in Tucson. After a lackluster performance as a freshman, Goldwater withdrew from the university and returned home upon hearing news of his father's death. Goldwater soon began working at the family store and would continue to do so until 1953.

On September 22, 1934, Goldwater married Margaret "Peggy" Johnson and would be wed to her until her death in December, 1985, after fifty-one years of marriage. Barry and Peggy would go on to have four children: Joanne, Barry, Michael, and Peggy.

During WWII, Goldwater served as a pilot in the 27th Ferry Squadron Division of the Air Transport Command (ATC), a unit of the United States Army Air Forces. Goldwater helped transport airplanes and supplies to the war fronts, and also between the United States and India. Upon retiring, Goldwater held the rank of Major General.

In 1949, Goldwater was elected to the Phoenix City Council. In 1952, Goldwater, running on a republican ticket, entered Arizona's senate race and defeated popular Democrat Ernest W. McFarland. Goldwater would go on to serve a total of five terms in the United States Senate as a representative of Arizona from 1953–1965 (Goldwater stepped down from the Senate in 1964 to focus on his presidential campaign), and 1969–1987.

Goldwater won the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 1964, but would lose the presidential election in a landslide to popular Democrat, Lyndon B. Johnson. In a historic loss, Goldwater carried only six states: Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. While the loss ranks among some of the worst in United States history, many credit Goldwater as ushering in the conservative movement of the 20th century.

Among the more pressing topics that Goldwater addressed as a member of the United States Senate were labor unions, Communism, and the United States budget. One of his most noted legislative achievements came with the passing of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act; the act served to restructure upper-level military organization.

On June 3, 1998, Goldwater passed away only a few months before reaching his ninetieth birthday, and was buried in his home state of Arizona.

• 1909:: Barry M. Goldwater was born on January 1st.
• 1928:: Goldwater graduated from Staunton Military Academy.
• 1934:: Goldwater married Margaret "Peggy" Johnson.
• 1949:: Goldwater was elected to the Phoenix City Council.
• 1952:: Goldwater entered Arizona's Senate race on the Republican ticket and defeated popular Democrat Ernest W. McFarland.
• 1964:: Goldwater won the Republican Party's presidential nomination but lost the presidential election to Lyndon B. Johnson.
• 1986:: Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act is passed.
• 1987:: Goldwater retired from the United States Senate.
• 1998:: Barry M. Goldwater died on May 29th.

From the guide to the Collection on the Barry M. Goldwater Presidential campaign, 1892-1965, undated, 1964, (Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.)