1964 Republican National Convention

The Republican primaries of 1964 featured liberal Nelson Rockefeller of New York and conservative Barry Goldwater of Arizona as the two leading candidates. Shortly before the California primary, Rockefeller's wife, whom he had just married the previous year soon after divorcing his previous wife, gave birth; this drew renewed attention to his family life which hurt his popularity among conservatives and helped Goldwater win the primary. An anti-Goldwater organization called for the nomination of former Governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania, but the effort failed. Although former President Dwight Eisenhower only reluctantly supported Goldwater after he won the nomination, former President Herbert Hoover gave him enthusiastic endorsement. By the end of the primaries, Goldwater's nomination was secure.

Senator Margaret Chase Smith's name was entered for nomination at the Convention, the first time a woman's name was entered for nomination at a major party convention.

Governor Mark Hatfield appears before the convention in the Cow Palace

The Republican National Convention of 1964 was a tension-filled contest. Goldwater's conservatives were openly clashing with Rockefeller's moderates. Goldwater was regarded as the "conservatives' leading spokesman."[2] As a result, Goldwater was not as popular with the moderates and liberals of the Republican Party.[3][4] When Rockefeller attempted to deliver a speech, he was booed by the convention's conservative delegates, who regarded him as a member of the "eastern liberal establishment." Despite the infighting, Goldwater was easily nominated. He chose William E. Miller, a Representative from New York, as his running mate. In his acceptance speech, he declared communism as a "principal disturber of the peace in the world today" and said, "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." Some people, including those within his own campaign staff, believed this weakened Goldwater's chances, as he effectively severed ties with the moderates and liberals of the Republican Party.[5]

Former vice president and GOP presidential nominee (and future President) Richard Nixon introduced the Arizonan as "Mr. Conservative" and "Mr. Republican" and he continued that "he is the man who, after the greatest campaign in history, will be Mr. President — Barry Goldwater".[6] 1964 was the only Republican convention between 1952 and 1972 that did not result in Nixon being nominated for President or Vice-President.

According to Emmy award-winning television journalist, Belva Davis, she and another black reporter were chased out of the convention by attendees yelling racial slurs.[7]

A Platform Committee meeting held ahead of the convention in on July 9

The 1964 Republican Platform was dominated by Goldwater conservatives, which meant the platform was dominated by calls for limited government, condemnations of the Kennedy and Johnson foreign and domestic policy, calls for more open space for free enterprise, a hard-line against Communist North Vietnam, calls for reform of the United Nations, a staunch support of NATO, calls for lower taxes, a hard line against international Communism, and an accusation that the Kennedy Administration was guilty of Munich-like appeasement for having opened a hotline with the Soviet Union and not with American allies.[8]

• 
  Governor
  Nelson Rockefeller
  of New York
• 
  Governor
  George W. Romney
  of Michigan
• 
  Senator
  Margaret Chase Smith
  of Maine
• 
  Senator
  Barry Goldwater
  of Arizona
• 
  Former Representative
  Walter Judd
  from Minnesota
• 
  Ambassador
  Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
  of Massachusetts
• 
  Senator
  Hiram Fong
  of Hawaii
• 
  Former Governor
  Harold Stassen
  of Minnesota
• 
  Governor
  William Scranton
  of Pennsylvania

The roll call vote of the states was as follows, as reported by the New York Times:

• History of the United States Republican Party
• List of Republican National Conventions
• U.S. presidential nomination convention
• 1964 Democratic National Convention
• 1964 United States presidential election
• Barry Goldwater presidential campaign, 1964

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 1964 Republican National Convention.

• Republican Party platform of 1964 at The American Presidency Project
• Goldwater nomination acceptance speech for President at RNC (transcript) at The American Presidency Project
• 1964 Republican National Convention at Smithsonian Magazine
• Video of Goldwater nomination acceptance speech for President at RNC from C-SPAN (via YouTube)
• Audio of Goldwater nomination acceptance speech for President at RNC
• Video of Miller nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at RNC from C-SPAN (via YouTube)