Election Of 1964 Essay

The United States presidential election of 1964 was one of the most fascinating presidential election in the history of the United States behind in terms of electoral votes, and in of popular votes. The two parties that were running were the Democratic and Republican parties. The two candidates were Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democrats and Barry Goldwater for the Republicans.

Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater was a senator from Arizona. Senator Goldwater promised to offer Americans "a choice, not an echo". He proposed the use of tactical nuclear weapons in vietnam and he pointed out that he would make deep cuts in spending, especially in social programs. In his nomination speech, Goldwater appealed to conservative "purists" and threw down the challenge to Republican moderates with the famous words "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice." He rejecting any unity actions toward the Republican moderates. He opposed the civil rights legislation and even challenge Social security, advising it should be voluntary. Goldwater

Johnson; who had served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, began his political career earnest in 1937, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. After earning respect as a hardworking and smart legislator, he was after re-elected five times. In 1941 he even served in the Navy as a lieutenant commander until all members of Congress in the military were recalled to Washington in 1942.
Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948 following a bruising Democratic primary. In 1953, Johnson became the youngest person ever to serve as minority leader of the Senate. Two years later, after the Democrats won control of Congress, Johnson became the Senate majority leader. He portrayed himself as a moderate and a peacemaker. He campaigned on the “Great Society” social programs and a limited involvement in Vietnam. His main issues were social programs and civil