Goldwater’s appeal fused cowboy posturing with nuclear brinkmanship

Evidence

Goldwater’s truculent style and aggressive foreign policy went hand in hand with his cowboy mystique. Here was a man who was not afraid to shoot first. Goldwater had recommended withdrawing from the UN and appeared open to provoking nuclear war. Opponents tarred him a warmonger and an extremist, to which Goldwater famously retorted: “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And … moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!” — Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Jesus and John Wayne, 102