Arizona Faces and Features Mr. Arizona: Barry Goldwater (1909–1998) Barry Goldwater was so admired that he was called “Mr. Arizona” by the people of Arizona. Arizona’s greatest political story of the last half of the 20th century was the story of Barry M. Goldwater. Barry was born in the Arizona Territory on January 1, 1909. As a young man, he traveled all around Arizona exploring its natural wonders. He also got to know the people. He became an excellent photographer. He gathered a large collection of Kachina dolls from the Hopi. In 1949, at the age of 40, Barry decided to get into politics. He ran for and won a seat on the Phoenix City Council. As the 1952 Presidential election neared, Barry decided to make an unlikely run as the Republican candidate for the United States Senate. Even though his only political experience was with the Phoenix City Council, Barry’s years of traveling Arizona paid off. He defeated Ernest McFarland in a hotly contested election. In 1964, Arizona’s Barry Goldwater was the Republican candidate for President of the United States. Even though he did not win that election, his manner, his wit, and his commitment to his ideals would continue to influence and serve all Americans. In 1987 he retired from the United States Senate. He returned to his beloved Arizona. Barry Morris Goldwater died in his Paradise Valley home on May 29, 1998. Thousands of Arizonans and other Americans came to Phoenix to honor this great man at his funeral. He was an Arizonan who served his state and his nation with great honor and dignity. We may never see the likes of Barry Goldwater, Mr. Arizona, again! r r Chapter 11 • Arizona Faces and Features  115