I Know He's Right

Gold text curled above and below a gold heart on a white background

This button was issued for the 1964 presidential campaign of conservative Republican senator Barry Goldwater. One of his slogans was "In your heart, you know he's right." Some who opposed Goldwater mocked this by saying "In your guts, you know he's nuts." In his acceptance speech, he paraphrased the Roman orator Cicero by saying "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue," a phrase for which he is also remembered.

Goldwater and his running mate William E. Miller lost the election to incumbent president Lyndon Johnson and Hubert H. Humphrey. Johnson received 486 electoral votes, while Goldwater won only 52 and just six states. Goldwater served as U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1953-1965 and 1969-1987.