First published 2002
Rick Perlstein examines how conservative politics gained momentum during the 1960s, a decade dominated by liberal ideals. The historian focuses on Barry Goldwater, the Arizona Republican who rejected federal power, attacked liberal policies, and dismissed diplomatic cooperation with the Soviet Union. Perlstein traces the networks of conservative activists and their liberal opponents, featuring figures like William F. Buckley, Nelson Rockefeller, and Bill Moyers. The book reveals how this political movement organized and grew despite operating in hostile territory. Perlstein uses detailed research to show readers the personalities, conflicts, and strategies that shaped American conservatism during its formative years.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Arizona, Soviet Union
Period: 1960s
672 pages · Paperback · Hill and Wang