Barry Goldwater

Goldwater, having secured the Republican nomination, visited Wheaton in early October 1964. During his speech Goldwater called for a "restoration of law" in the United States, but a clash of demonstrations occurred between Johnson and Goldwater supporters portended a shift in political ideologies held among students. Local Christian residents attending the Goldwater rally encountered the Johnson supporters and tempers flared with locals calling some students "communists" and questioning their religious commitment, expecting any "good" Christian to vote for Goldwater and the Republican ticket. Some faculty applauded the courage of students to follow their convictions, despite them going against convention. They lamented the fact that charity and tolerance were lacking in the conflict.