There are three aspects to the Southern Strategy. First it is alleged that Barry Goldwater’s vote against the 1964 Civil Rights Act proved he was a racist and his appeal to “states rights” implied a continuation of Jim Crow. The reality of Goldwater’s alleged “racism” is much different, however. Goldwater had been instrumental in the effort to integrate the Arizona National Guard even before Truman integrated the Armed Forces. Goldwater had voted for all previous civil rights legislation. He was only opposed to two provisions in the ’64 Civil Rights Act; provisions which affected private property. He believed that private businesses and clubs were subject only to market forces, not government mandates.
