With the stinging defeat of the Republicans in the 1964 Presidential election, many thought the ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party, led by Barry Goldwater would be a dead issue by the 1966 mid-term elections. But that appears to be far from the case. With civil unrest, and protest to the Vietnam War growing, Goldwater was probably right in his attitude of biding his time, waiting for voter apathy towards the party in power. And by 1968 his timing was right.

But in 1965, it was still a case of assessment and speculation on a far-off future. This Meet The Press panel interview takes place in June of 1965 when Goldwater was not in public office, but rather Citizen Goldwater and the titular head of the Republican party.

Sen. Barry Goldwater: “We need Republicans. Now if a man runs not as a Republican but as something else, you can’t count him as a Republican. He may not be able to get elected as a Republican in New York City, and I might say I’m a poor one to speak on this because I don’t live in New York City, I can’t vote there, and I have no business trying to influence votes one way or another up there. I happen to be a vice-President of the National Municipal League, and we have pushed non-partisan city elections. I got into politics on a non-partisan ticket. But I was a Republican and I let people know about it.”

He goes on to discuss his opposition to a Third Party and several items which would no doubt condemn him to the status of Liberal by today's standards. It's interesting to consider just how far right the Republican Party has come since the days when Barry Goldwater, during the 1964 campaign was object of an impromptu billboard commentary to his "In Your Heart, You Know He's Right" to the accompaniment of " . . .Far Right."

He would not be perceived that way today I'm afraid.

People have been arguing over just exactly when the Republican Party took its big turn to the right. Some say it was 1979 and The Reagan Years. Others site 1968 and the Nixon era and many say it was 1960 and the dawn of Goldwater.

My vote is for 1960. Yup. Fifty-two years - no recent phenomenon. Let's not feign shock.

So continuing my backward look at Politics and Presidential elections, I thought I would dig through the 1964 Republican Convention held in San Francisco. Just about everyone knows that convention by the Goldwater acceptance speech (the "moderation/extremism" one). But I thought I would run a clip from just after the final vote was tallied, giving Goldwater the nomination. This is from CBS News coverage featuring Walter Cronkite, Eric Severeid and a veritable who's who of CBS News notables of the day.

Cronkite and Severeid reflect on the vote and the phenomenon of Goldwater and what was going on with the Republican Party.

Eric Severeid: “You made an interesting observation Walter, it must’ve been hours ago Walter, I don’t even know what day it is anymore, that the word Liberal was not really used anymore by the middle-of-the-road/left-of-center Republicans, those from the East and the North. That they went to great efforts, all of them, here to establish their credentials as Conservatives. The word I suppose is Moderate these days . . .

Walter Cronkite: “They use Conservatives. Scranton used Conservative. Romney used Conservative . . .

Severeid: “Milton Eisenhower went to great effort to attach the label of Conservative to Governor Scranton. I don’t know where all of them will go now. Certainly Senator Keating has a problem and I’m not sure these . . .the effect of this Negro walkout, they’re leaving the party, not just leaving the Convention.”

The Convention was a turning point for a lot of Republicans, particularly the Moderate and Liberal wing. And while the Goldwater forces were hailing it as a victory, many were of the opinion this lack of diversity within the ranks was ultimately not a good thing for either party. Something which I suspect we're weathering through right now.

But there was a lot going on in that convention. Just prior to the commentary I left in a report from outside the convention of CORE pickets and the whole Civil Rights issue, causing many Blacks within the Republican party to bolt, not only the convention but the party itself.

Fascinating piece of history and certainly one element in the giant jigsaw puzzle of politics.

CBS News coverage of the 1964 Republican Convention for July 16, 1964.