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When Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, a compassionate conservative who championed civil rights and environmental protections, announced his intention to run against John F. Kennedy in the 1964 election, Didion embraced his candidacy.

“Goldwater was a commanding presence who projected a straight-forward approach towards issues,” observes Wilkinson.

Her father was Bill Miller, who ran for vice president with Barry Goldwater in 1964.

Working for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in California’s 1964 Republican presidential primary, the pair ran a searing campaign against Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, falling just shy of an upset.

One Republican critic, Senator Barry Goldwater, described the decision as "the most disgraceful thing that a president has ever done".