Senator Barry Goldwater is one of the towering figures in the history of Phoenix, modern conservatism, and twentieth-century U.S. history. It has been more than ten years since Robert Goldberg published his Pulitzer-prize nominated biography, which he titled simply Barry Goldwater. In the last five years, Arizona Historical Foundation's policy to open Goldwater’s political and personal papers during processing and cataloging combined with new avenues of historical inquiry into the modern Right have made a reassessment of Goldwater’s life, political career, and impact on 20th century American history not only possible but imperative. Goldwater's 100th birthday marks the ideal moment for a broad interrogation of the Arizonan.

This conference does not seek to memorialize Goldwater per se or to focus on his 1964 run for president. Instead, the assembled scholars endeavor  to place this towering figure among the myriads of groups, political movements, legislative reform initiatives, and everyday Americans whom he inspired and, in turn, motivated him and shaped his political career and private life. These proceedings will be more than just biographical essays on facets of Goldwater's life - they will endeavor to speak to the larger narrative of 20th century history through him.