The election of 1964 was one of the most pivotal moments in American political history. Following the tragedy of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson sought to secure his own mandate while facing off against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, whose campaign would reshape conservatism for decades to come.
The Life and Death of President Kennedy
As noted in the election of 1960, John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon and began charting a bold new course for America. His presidency was defined by Cold War flashpoints like the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Domestically, Kennedy introduced ambitious proposals, including landmark civil rights legislation and the goal of putting a man on the moon.
But on November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald, shocking the world. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president the same day. Kennedy’s assassination marked not only the abrupt end of his presidency but also the last time a sitting president would die in office.
LBJ’s Presidency
Johnson wasted no time in asserting his authority. His “War on Poverty” program produced the Economic Opportunity Act and other reforms aimed at reducing unemployment and hardship. He also signed the Revenue Act of 1964, stimulating the economy through tax cuts.
But Johnson’s presidency also saw deepening involvement in Vietnam. After the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, he gained authority to escalate U.S. military presence, setting the stage for a conflict that would dominate the rest of the decade.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Johnson’s greatest achievement in his first year as president was pushing through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, fulfilling Kennedy’s unfinished work. Despite fierce opposition from Southern Democrats, the Act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Johnson himself admitted the political cost, remarking that the Democrats had likely “lost the South for a generation.” His prediction would prove prophetic as the South gradually shifted toward the Republican Party.
The Democratic Nomination
At the Democratic National Convention, Johnson faced rumblings from Robert F. Kennedy supporters, who hoped to see him join the ticket as vice president. Johnson, wary of RFK, blocked the move and instead selected Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey, a vocal supporter of civil rights, as his running mate. This solidified LBJ’s image as the heir to Kennedy’s vision.
Barry Goldwater and the Rise of Conservatism
In the Republican primaries, the contest came down to conservative Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona versus moderate New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Goldwater won the nomination and chose William Miller of New York as his running mate.
Goldwater’s campaign was unapologetically conservative, calling for limited government, opposition to civil rights legislation, and a more aggressive stance against communism. His acceptance speech contained the famous line: “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.”
The Campaigns
Johnson’s campaign sought to portray Goldwater as reckless and dangerous. The most infamous example was the “Daisy” television ad, which implied that Goldwater’s election could lead to nuclear annihilation. Though aired only once, it became one of the most effective attack ads in American history.
Goldwater, meanwhile, energized conservatives and Southern voters, but his opposition to the Civil Rights Act alienated moderates and African American voters who had begun shifting toward the Democratic Party.
The Results
The election of 1964 was a landslide. Johnson won 486 electoral votes and 61.1% of the popular vote—one of the largest margins in U.S. history. Goldwater carried only six states: his home state of Arizona and five Deep South states, reflecting the early stages of the Southern political realignment.
The Beginning of a Shift
Though Johnson’s victory was overwhelming, Goldwater’s candidacy marked a turning point. His brand of conservatism energized a new Republican coalition that would later produce leaders like Ronald Reagan. Meanwhile, Johnson’s triumph gave him the mandate to launch his ambitious “Great Society” programs, even as Vietnam threatened to overshadow his domestic legacy.
Conclusion
The election of 1964 was fought in the shadow of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Johnson secured a historic landslide by pledging to continue JFK’s vision of civil rights, social reform, and global leadership. Yet Goldwater’s candidacy, while unsuccessful, sparked the rise of modern conservatism and began peeling the South away from the Democrats. Just as Kennedy’s narrow win in 1960 changed the course of American politics, the election of 1964 reshaped both parties and set the stage for the turbulent contest of 1968.