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U.S. senator from Arizona (1953-1965, 1969-87). Lost 1964 presidential election to Lyndon Johnson .He served as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II - he retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1969 with the rank of Major General.He was well known as the first Amateur Radio operator to serve in the United States Senate.The chemical equasion "AuH2O" was often used as a symbol for support of Goldwater during one of his presidential campaigns. "Au" is the Periodic table symbol for gold, and "H2O" hydrogen (x2) and oxygen, creating water. "AuH2O" literally being "gold water".Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1991.Was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.Was an amateur radio operator and held license K7UGA.Credited with defining the core values of the modern-day Republican party.Member of the US Republican Party.In his later years, he became estranged from his own party, which he saw as becoming influenced by the religious right - something he strongly opposed as a conservative libertarian.During his 1964 presidential campaign, a television ad featuring a girl counting daisies, followed by a mushroom cloud, was broadcast. The commercial was designed to imply that he would start a nuclear war if he were elected president. Known as the "Daisy ad", the attack ad was viewed as a factor in his landslide defeat by incumbent Lyndon Johnson .Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 235-237. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.In 1974, during the height of the Watergate scandal, he advised President Richard Nixon he should resign from office.His presidential campaign slogan was "In your heart, you know he's right." In response, President Lyndon Johnson's campaign spoofed it with "In your heart, you know he might" and "In your guts, you know he's nuts."While running for president, he was endorsed by Ronald Reagan . In addition, despite his election loss, he was credited for helping pave the way for Reagan's presidency.In 2006, his nephew, Donald Goldwater, sought the Republican nomination for Arizona governor, only to lose the nomination to Len Munsil (who eventually lost the gubernatorial election to Democratic incumbent Governor Janet Napolitano ).Retired from the U.S. Senate in 1986. From 1987 to the present (2007), his former seat has been held by John McCain .Stepfather of Molly Schaffer .Father of Barry Goldwater Jr. .