Harmony at Hershey

Within a few days of his crushing victory at San Francisco, Barry Goldwater realized that he had committed a major mistake in campaign strategy. Letters of protest from other Republicans poured into the G.O.P. National Committee, and Goldwater could see that his cold, unconciliatory acceptance speech and his explosive line about extremism had refueled, rather than dampened, the fiery convention tempers. He knew that something had to be done about it -- and something was.

Goldwater wrote to Richard Nixon, explained that perhaps what he should have said about extremism was that "wholehearted devotion to liberty is unassailable and that halfhearted devotion to justice is indefensible." Then, carrying out a plan conceived even before the convention, he skillfully handled a remarkable summit conference of G.O.P. leaders in Hershey, Pa.

One of Goldwater's top aides explained why the unity meeting was now so important. "Let's face it--that acceptance speech was a mistake. We'd won, and that was a time for pulling together--inviting everybody back in.

But those guys* came in with this 'to hell with you' speech and hit the boss in a mood to take it."

So, one day last week, Goldwater went to Hershey armed with a carefully honed speech. It was drafted largely by former Eisenhower Advisers Bryce Harlow and Ed McCabe in consultation with Goldwater and Ike; it was a fascinating document, in both tone and content (see box). "This speech," observed a close Goldwater associate, "is what he should have said at San Francisco."

To hear Barry out and to discuss all of the obstacles to party unity, the leaders met for two hours and 45 minutes at the Hershey Hotel. Present were Goldwater, Vice-Presidential Candidate William Miller, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, 14 Republican Governors and 14 G.O.P. gubernatorial candidates. The positions they took there, in private, laid the basis for their later pronouncements of unity. High points behind the closed doors:

Miller: The two premises of the campaign will be, first, firmness in foreign policy, and second, fiscal responsibility. Barry Goldwater wants to be President, and I want to be Vice President. But we want to conduct ourselves in such a way that whether we actually achieve this or not, we will strengthen our party, thereby strengthening the two-party system in this country. If we have any trouble achieving unity, all we have to do is look at the bitterness the Democrats had to face in 1960 after their convention. They got together after bitter primary and convention fights.

Goldwater: [Introducing Ike.] Here's a man who brought us eight years of prosperity, peace and honesty in government. [Applause].

Eisenhower: I have had many talks with Barry Goldwater. He plans to release a statement today that should erase all doubts any of us may have had about him. I assure you it is not a bland one, but a strong one. Let's bare our souls today and get down to meaningful issues.

Nixon: If a party is to be a national party, there must be room for differences of opinion. When Barry Goldwater enters a state, he understands that the local candidate will not agree with him in all respects, and that a Barry Goldwater position may not be the best possible position on a particular issue. We must expand the base of our party.

We need liberals and conservatives in this party to win.

Goldwater: I don't want candidates to worry about the positions they take, so long as they are positions arrived at through conviction and taking into account local conditions. [Barry then read his speech. Vigorous applause.]

Michigan's Governor George Romney: I understand Goldwater's private position on civil rights, and it is fine. But why not put the same position publicly?

Goldwater: My position is one of total opposition to segregation. As a member of the N.A.A.C.P. and a founder of the Urban League in my state, I have expressed this position. I have and I will continue to bend over backwards not to light the tinderbox of civil rights.

New York's Governor Nelson Rockefeller: The Republican Party in New York is caught between the Conservatives on one side and the Democrats on the other. Therefore the position taken by Barry Goldwater on diversity of opinion is important. There must be unity at more than just the top level in the party. Will you try to persuade the Conservatives not to enter a senatorial candidate in New York?

Goldwater: I will do what I can.

Rockefeller: It is essential that you make your statements on racism, lawlessness and extremist tactics absolutely clear to counter the image you have picked up.

Goldwater: I am trying to do so. I don't know what more I can say.

Eisenhower: What we ought to do is to keep emphasizing the side of Barry Goldwater we know to be there--his honesty, his courage, his integrity.

Maine's Governor John H. Reed: Senator, in view of the discussion here this morning and the answers you have given to the questions, all of my reservations are dispelled. I am here to say that I fully support you and the entire Republican ticket. [Loud applause.]

With that, the G.O.P. leaders adjourned, and exhibiting the glowing satisfaction of a Hershey kiss, declared their resolute unity to the waiting press. Dwight Eisenhower cheerily cited sections from Goldwater's speech to show why he "fully supports" Goldwater. Ike confessed that he had felt "uncertainties" about Barry after San Francisco. "I think a great many people did. I think we all recognize that, and that's one of the reasons for the meeting--to get all of these differences, uncertainties, discussed. I asked Senator Goldwater for certain explanations. This he gave me. I am right on Senator Goldwater's team as much as he wants me."

In Goldwater's view, the address was "no conciliatory speech at all. It merely reaffirms what I've been saying throughout the campaign. Now sometimes it hasn't gotten through quite clearly. I don't know why, but there are reasons, I suppose. I'm very satisfied with today's meeting. I think it was very, very productive. I look forward now to a greatly strengthened party and victorious results in November."

* "Those guys included a number of Goldwater aides, but the address was largely the work of Speechwriter Karl Hess, onetime newspaper and magazine (Newsweek) staffer.

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