[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEATH OF SENATOR BARRY GOLDWATER

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to speak of the passing of 
our former colleague, Senator Barry Goldwater--one of the giants of 
twentieth century American politics.
  There is no doubt that Barry Goldwater was a transformational 
political thinker whose courage and conviction never wavered despite 
enduring a defeat in 1964. For in that defeat were sown the seeds of 
the Republican revolution that ultimately brought Ronald Reagan to the 
Presidency in 1980 and Republicans to control of Congress 14 years 
later.
  Senator Goldwater was a man who never minced words. He was honest, 
open and forthright. After his 1964 Presidential hopes were completely 
vanquished, he observed ``When you've lost an election by that much, it 
isn't the case of whether you made the wrong speech or wore the wrong 
necktie. It was just the wrong time.'' In fact, Barry Goldwater was far 
ahead of his time and had the opportunity to see his beliefs vindicated 
when Ronald Reagan was elected President.
  Barry Goldwater did not base his political views on focus groups or 
poll results. He had core beliefs and was not willing to bend them for 
temporary political advantage. He warned of the dangers of big 
government and the welfare state precisely at the time that Lyndon 
Johnson was constructing the largest expansion of government since the 
Depression. He preached a strategy of winning the cold war through a 
policy of peace through strength while the conventional wisdom argued 
for peaceful coexistence with a de-emphasis on military strength.
  When the American Presidency was in crisis in 1974 after the Supreme 
Court had ruled against President Nixon's claims of Executive 
Privilege, Senator Goldwater joined several Congressional colleagues in 
a visit to the White House to give counsel to the President. Although 
he had long supported President Nixon throughout the ordeal of 
Watergate, most observers believe that his words were decisive in 
persuading the President that the case was hopeless and for the good of 
the Nation he must resign.
  Mr. President, there are certain quotations that live on decades and 
centuries after a man has died, yet they capture the spirit of the time 
and the man. Two centuries ago, when America was heading into 
revolution, that spirit was best captured in the words of Patrick 
Henry: ``Give me liberty or give me death.'' The words of Barry 
Goldwater spoken 34 years ago at the Republican convention best sum up 
the spirit, clarity and wisdom that he will forever be remembered for: 
``Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in the 
pursuit of justice is no virtue.''
  We will all miss this decent and honest man who made such a 
difference for America.

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