Abstract
This thesis aims to further develop the understanding of the Reagan phenomenon and its larger impact on the Conservatism. In seeking to give Barry Goldwater much needed historical reappraisal, this work prioritizes how the relationship between Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan led to the Conservative renaissance that culminated in the two terms of the Reagan Presidency. Scholars of the Cold War and the conservative movement continue to focus much of their attention on the Rise of the Conservative Right from 1964-1980. However, this myopic view complicates the understanding of Ronald Reagan’s presidency as his second term from 1984-1989 that saw the beginning of the end for the Soviet Union remains largely unexplored. Drawing from the methodology of Cold War history this thesis contributes to a richer understanding of the Cold War and the intellectual tradition of Conservatism. The project’s originality that sees the intersection of Cold War, Diplomatic, and American Military history with domestic politics demonstrates the impact that Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan had upon both the Conservative movement and the American Presidency. Assessing both Goldwater and Reagan emphasizes and mitigates the historiographical dearth of sources on Barry Goldwater while giving the opportunity to explore Reagan’s presidency further.