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Ikefan said 02/23, 12:14 PM
The 1964 race for the nomination was the most pivotal election for the Republican party, and has been the most significant one in that party in the 20th or 21st century. The reason being that it was a battle between the very well-loved Rockefeller liberals, and the rising Goldwater conservatives. Because Rockefeller lost the nomination, the Republican's liberal wing has died, and now they are expected (and usually always do) to play partisan politics. Because of Rockefeller's loss, the liberal Republican have became illegitimate. This has shaped the party, and has made Goldwater an icon. William Scranton (whom the liberals picked after Rocky dropped out after having an affair) was easily trounced by Goldwater and the conservative movement that had been rising since the mid-1940's, with Robert Taft carrying the torch. But the rising movement had always been defeated by the moderates or liberals (Robert Taft, who was known as "Mr. Conservative," before Goldwater took that mantle in the early 60's, lost the nomination in '44 to moderate Thomas Dewey, lost it again to Dewey, and lost the nomination again to moderate Dwight Eisenhower) was legitimized in 1964.

Ikefan said 02/25, 08:18 PM
That's good you like Kennedy, but I'm debating how the '64 election shaped the Republican party. Especially before the nomination. That has little to do with Kennedy.