Goldwater - Arizona Icon born Jan. 1, 1909

Photo by Lisa E White

Barry M. Goldwater, St. was born 104 years ago today in the Arizona territory (1909-1998).  Barry Goldwater hugely influenced Arizona and remains an icon today.  After taking over the family Goldwater Department store chain in 1930, he became an Air Force pilot in WWII and Korea, flying over India and the Himalayas to deliver supplies to the Republic of China, eventually retiring from the Air Force Reserves as a Major General.   Goldwater was a U.S. Senator for 30 years, and a presidential candidate in 1964.  A "Goldwater Conservative" meant one who supported small government, without focusing on social issues such as abortion.  Though he desegrergated the Arizona Air National Guard years before the U.S. Military did, he opposed the Bill of Rights Act of 1964 because, as a State's Rights advocate, he disliked the federal government's increasing control over states.   His signature black-framed glasses and bolo tie marked his style, and he had not only a bolo tie collection, but also donated 437 Kachinas to the Heard Museum which are on display today.  The picture above was taken at the Goldwater Memorial on the corner of Tatum and Lincoln, where his statue overlooks Camelback Mountain.  Here are some great quotes that say it all:

About Religion: (from a mixed Jewish/Episcopalian background) "If a man acts in a religious way, an ethical way, then he's really a religious man—and it doesn't have a lot to do with how often he gets inside a church."

About United Nations admission of Red China: "I suggested on the floor of the Senate today that we stop all funds for the United Nations. Now, what that'll do to the United Nations, I don't know. I have a hunch it would cause them to fold up, which would make me very happy at this particular point. I think if this happens, they can well move their headquarters to Peking or Moscow and get 'em out of this country."

Dislike of Moral Majority:  Upon Falwell's opposition to Sandra Day O'Connor's confirmation, Falwell said,  "Every good Christian should be concerned", Goldwater retorted: "Every good Christian ought to kick Falwell right in the ass."

In a 1994 Interview: "When you say "radical right" today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye."

And finally, to Bob Dole in Dole's 1996 presidential campaign:  "We're the new liberals of the Republican party. Can you imagine that?"