In an extended edition of Hour of Decision Lew tells the story of the epic Barry Goldwater presidential campaign of 1964. It was a huge grassroots effort that defeated the powerful Nelson Rockefeller in the primaries, despite having much less funding and virtually NO friendly media telling their story. As in the case of Senator Joe McCarthy in the 1950s, and Donald Trump in our day, corporate media was extremely hostile, and did no small amount of lying in the process.

Goldwater was soundly defeated in the general election by Lyndon Johnson. But a movement was born that disrupted the establishment consensus, accepted previously by both parties, that touted internationalism abroad and big government at home. It launched the political career of Ronald Reagan, who succeeded Goldwater as its leading figure. Goldwater campaign activists also continued the fight as leaders in subsequent Pro-Gun, Pro-Life, and anti-tax movements, and in many future political campaigns.

This history clearly reveals parallels with our day. It shows the long term nature of the battle for American freedom, and the vicious resistance encountered when the establishment feels truly threatened. It illustrates the effectiveness of grassroots action as the 1960s Goldwater movement deployed their own “precinct strategy.”