Goldwater was prepared to do what needed to be done to protect the country.
One of the major factors in his loss was the media giving constant coverage saying that he would use nuclear weapons.
He was asked in an interview if he would use nukes to defend the country if necessary and he said yes....
The way it was portrayed in the media helped give him the loss.
No one seemed to ask what the other candidates would do... Let the country be taken?
In either case, he was the only one with balls enough to tell the truth.