Amazon.com: Pure Goldwater: John W. Dean, Barry M. Goldwater Jr.: Books

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Senator Barry Goldwater (1909-1998), whose 1960 best-seller Conscience of a Conservative helped define the modern conservative movement, was by 1996 describing himself and Bob Dole as "the new liberals of the Republican Party." Author Dean (Broken Government, Conservatives Without Conscience) and Goldwater Jr., the Senator's son and an eighth-term California congressman, explore the complicated figure in this "scrap book" of journal excerpts, correspondence, articles and other primary testimony. A Republican maverick who valued principle over political expediency, Goldwater can be predictable-maintaining loyalty toward Nixon even as the President edged him out of inner White House circles (as late as May 1973, Goldwater called for Jack Anderson's Pulitzer to be re-dubbed "the Benedict Arnold Award")-but he was neither an ideologue nor a mud-slinger: for instance, his hard-hitting fight against President Johnson stopped short of scandalizing LBJ's chief of staff, arrested for "disorderly" conduct in a men's toilet, and in 1994 he went against the powerful new GOP congress by saying publicly of Whitewater, "I haven't heard anything yet that says this is all that big of a deal." Covering personal life, career and retirement, including his 1964 bid for president, this is an invaluable chronicle of the times, told by an American who changed politics by being, simply, "an honest man who tried his damnedest."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"An invaluable chronicle of the times."--Publishers Weekly (starred review, Web Pick of the Week)

"Of all the books on 'Mr. Conservative,' Pure Goldwater might provide the most realistic insights into his character and thinking. After the birth of Barry Jr., Goldwater started a private journal...that journal is the basis of Pure Goldwater — so, in effect, it is a book written by the senator himself, capturing his most intimate thoughts for those closest to him."--The National Review

“It’s a fitting tribute to a real straight talker, a fine Senator, and one of the most influential conservatives of the past 50 years.”--The National Review
"A sprawling treasure trove . . . Goldwater is worth rediscovering . . . Conservatives--and liberals, too--take note."--Washington Post Book World

"A field guide to the presidential and legislative politics of the middle to late 20th century. Reading Goldwater's descriptions of everything from behind-the-scenes dealings in the Senate or his interactions with Richard Nixon... will provide a literary fix for even the hardest core political junkies... By compiling his writings and publishing many of them in Pure Goldwater, the editors have performed a great public service."--The Washington Times

"The policy thought on display here and throughout the book will by turns delight and infuriate every part of the political spectrum . . . No Goldwater fan can do without a copy . . . readers can get their fix of the unscripted, unghosted conscience of a conservative from Pure Goldwater."--Daniel McCarthy, Reason

"Goldwater's own words are readable, agree with him or not... entries are thoughtful, informed, even scholarly."--Theo Lippman, Jr., The Baltimore Sun

"An engaging memoir... [Goldwater's writings] include funny, salty remarks that add to the folksy style... The editors show Goldwater's ultimate success as being remembered as he hoped to be: 'an honest man who tried his damndest.' Recommended."--Karl Helicher, Library Journal

"Particularly interesting."--Arizona Republic

"Pure Goldwater provides new insights into the man viewed by many as a founding figure in modern American conservatism. There's plain talk on a range of political issues here, but also personal glimpses... the journal entries about President Richard Nixon and Watergate are particularly eye-opening."--The Desert Sun

Praise for Conservatives without Conscience:

"A detailed . . . powerful case in a riveting book."--Los Angeles Times

"Searing . . . an angry indictment."--The Washington Post

"Dean has again amassed evidence of a cancer growing on the presidency."--The New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; illustrated edition edition (April 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1403977410
ISBN-13: 978-1403977410
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #238,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
graduated deterrence

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
White House, Journal Entry, United States, Republican Party, New York, Supreme Court, Barry Goldwater, Senator Goldwater, South Vietnam, World War, President Nixon, Richard Nixon, State Department, San Francisco, South Africa, President Eisenhower, President Ford, Jack Kennedy, Democratic Party, San Clemente, Republican National Committee, Defense Department, Washington Post, Oval Office, Lincoln Day

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	85% buy the item featured on this page: Pure Goldwater 5.0 out of 5 stars (6) $16.27
	9% buy Conscience of a Conservative 4.6 out of 5 stars (50) $15.59
	3% buy Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,708) $13.75
	2% buy Flying High: Remembering Barry Goldwater 4.4 out of 5 stars (5) $8.55

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

politics(11)

american history(3)

arizona(3)

biography(2)

mccain(2)

gerald ford(1)

See all 24 tags...

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure enjoyment, May 14, 2008

By	Jon Hunt "musician, teacher" (Old Greenwich, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

For those of us of a certain age, Barry Goldwater was the prickly candidate for president in 1964, whose "extremism in defense of liberty" speech turned away millions of voters. But Goldwater stayed around long after that and it's a good thing he did. "Pure Goldwater", a neatly arranged compilation of his journal entries (along with some letters and speeches) reveals a much more complex and attractive man than the public got to know more than a generation ago.

The title of the book could not have been more appropriate. Here we see Senator Goldwater in all of his frankness, lambasting presidents with whom he worked, yet revelling in the love of his family, photography, flying and service to his country. In reading "Pure Goldwater" it's not hard to be in agreement with him on one page and subsequently want to wring his neck on the next. He seemed always to be on the cutting edge of the day's events, even when he was doing some of the "cutting", himself. It's fascinating to see him comment on every president from FDR to Clinton and there was much about most of them he didn't like.

Much of the book centers around his relationship with Richard Nixon and the trials and tribulations of Watergate and perhaps the most intriguing part of the book follows his recollections on summing up Nixon's chances in the Senate for impeachment survival. I remember that day well and how it changed my mind about Senator Goldwater. Here was a true statesman rising to the occasion in a most difficult time in our nation's history.

Barry Goldwater's seeming drift to the left regarding such issues as women's choice and gay rights no doubt sent shivers up and down the collective spines of his conservative colleagues. But Goldwater reasoned well and was always practical and this will be a big part of his legacy...a conservative man ahead of his time. "Pure Goldwater" is a pure joy to read and I commend John Dean and Barry Goldwater, Jr. for allowing us this terrific look at the senator...as told through his own words. I highly recommend it.

Comment Comments (4) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TEN star Great book, May 7, 2008

By	MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Let me state from the get go that I am a Senator Goldwater and President Reagan style Republican.

What I think this books value is in 2008 is how it sheds alot of light on Senator Hillary Clinton who was a Goldwater girl as well as Senator John McCain who in his pre 2008 years was more Goldwater minded than most people know. But he has gone off course so badly and isnt the same open honest straight talking express man he once was.

Also of interest to me was how Libertarian minded Senator Goldwater was and not the conservative Republican of recent years which is right wing Christian close minded mode. I say this as a Christian who is Goldwater mode.

This is a book that anyone interested in sanity, smaller government, and Constitutional law should read. Sadly so many people probably see Goldwater as some right wing zealot. Thats President G. W. Bush, not Senator Goldwater.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Pure Goldwater!, April 25, 2008

By	Concerned US Citizen (USA) - See all my reviews

Mr. Dean and Barry Jr. have culled from the late Senator Goldwater's personal archive the most telling letters and journal entries imaginable. Barry Goldwater not only comes to life, he literally leaps off the pages, and his words are as relevant today as they were when he penned them. OF PARTICULAR note are the letters to Sen. John McCain, who actually took over Barry's seat in the Senate. WOW - very interesting and VERY enlightening. Who should buy this book? EVERYONE loved Senator Goldwater as well as his critics and all WHO ARE CONCERNED with the upcoming election and beyond that, the place of the USA in general. I strongly recommend this work. It is brilliant. It is Pure Goldwater!

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 6 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars I found what i was looking for in this book
I live here in AZ and allot of things here are named after Goldwater. Some streets, buildings and foundations. And living here 12 years I know nothing about him! Read more

Published 12 months ago by J. Noble

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Goldwater
Pure Goldwater is just what the title indicates, vintage, pure Goldwater. How good it was to read about my conservative, political hero once again. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Raymond I. Keffer

5.0 out of 5 stars ENTHRALLING READ!!
What a Gem! Honest, thought-provoking, riveting and well-written. Pure Goldwater gives an insightful look at an important time in history. Read more

Published 14 months ago by New Yorker

› See all 6 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; }

Customer Discussions

Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)

	Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
	No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

[Cancel]

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
politics Drought Save a Tree	2	23 seconds ago
politics Communism IS Evil - for Lily	220	1 minute ago
biography The worst biography you've ever read	27	1 minute ago
history Was Hitler allies with Muslims during WWII?	152	2 minutes ago
history Most important drug user? Why?	8179	17 minutes ago
conservatism recommend conservative coming of age?	9	1 day ago
american history Recommend a book on the Haymarket Affair	12	2 days ago

The Politics community

Latest activity 27 minutes ago

10,583 customers have contributed 8,630 products, 1,023 discussions and more...

› Explore the community

The Conservatism community

Latest activity 48 minutes ago

1,728 customers have contributed 1,825 products, 124 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

The American History community

Latest activity 49 minutes ago

7,914 customers have contributed 8,395 products, 696 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

Explore more

› See all Customer Communities

› Your communities

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

Listmania!

Conservative Reads # 2: A list by Mugged By Reality
AuH20 -- Barry Goldwater, the Last Conservative: A list by Brenan Nierman
Barry Goldwater: A list by Ben Stokes

Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...

Be an Intellectual Conservative: A guide by EphelDuath

Create a guide

Look for Similar Items by Category

Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Political
Books > History > Americas > United States > 20th Century
Books > Nonfiction > Politics
Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Doctrines
Books > Political Parties > Red Politics

An Explosion of Popcorn Flavor!

Munchies have never been better. The Fireworks Popcorn & Seasoning Set gives you four popcorn types and four seasonings, including white cheddar, butter burst, caramel pecan, and popcorn salt--all for $15.49.