Oklahoma Western Biographies

1 primary work

Barry Goldwater

by Peter Iverson

Published 1 September 1997

Most Americans think of Barry Goldwater in terms of his influence on national politics as a conservative Republican senator and as a candidate for president in 1964. In this examination of Goldwater's life and career, Peter Iverson shows that he should also be understood as a man of his place and time -- as a native Arizonan.

Born in 1909, three years before Arizona became a state, Goldwater mirrored the country in which he grew up. His interest in the diverse cultural and geographical terrain of Arizona encouraged him to represent it and its Indian communities in his photography. In his later years he helped lead the fight to save Phoenix's Camelback Mountain from further development. At the same time, however, because Goldwater was involved in aviation and the military and was fascinated with electronics, he strove to develop Arizona and promote its growth in those areas. Occasionally, he experienced "native's remorse" for the dilemmas posed by the demands placed upon the land and sky of his state.

Goldwater entered politics as a Phoenix City Council representative and then served his state and the nation as U.S. senator from 1953 through 1964 and again from 1969 through 1986. Returning in 1987 to Phoenix, he has remained an active, vocal participant in the life of his community.

This new interpretive biography presents an informed and even-handed analysis of Goldwater that will be of interest to anyone who wants a better understanding of the man, his time, and his place.