It has been 50 years since Republican Barry Goldwater’s momentous presidential campaign, and now those influenced by what is considered the birth of the modern-day conservative movement are planning to celebrate his 1964 bid.
Organizers tell Secrets that they plan to hold a Capitol Hill forum and dinner in Goldwater’s honor Nov. 18. It will include comments from Goldwater’s family and former campaign insiders, and also likely compare the conservative leader’s outlook to the current president.
Longtime conservative author and publisher Alfred Regnery, head of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, told the Examiner, for example, “Barry Goldwater was a westerner and a patriot. If elected he would have done his best to keep America American. President Obama is doing his best to take everything American out of America.”
Funds raised from the events will be used to help install a new statue of Goldwater in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, where one of Goldwater’s proteges, former President Ronald Reagan, already has a prime piece of real estate.
Details provided to Secrets:
— An afternoon forum on Goldwater will held at the Heritage Foundation. Speakers will include his former press secretary and chief of staff.
— In the evening, an dinner will be held at Liaison Hotel and feature speakers including family friend Sally Quinn of the Washington Post.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
