1964 RNC Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech: Dreams, Hopes, and Plans Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)

Quote #1

I believe that the communism which boasts it will bury us will, instead, give way to the forces of freedom. And I can see in the distant and yet recognizable future the outlines of a world worthy of our dedication, our every risk, our every effort, our every sacrifice along the way. Yes, a world that will redeem the suffering of those who will be liberated from tyranny. (79-81)

Don't get us wrong—liberating people from tyranny is always a good thing. But given the belligerence and military resources of the USSR at the time, how would this be accomplished? You can see why people were scared that Goldwater would be quick to nuke.

Quote #2

I can see and I suggest that all thoughtful men contemplate the flowering of an Atlantic civilization the whole world of Europe unified and free, trading openly across its border, communicating openly across the world. (82)

So this eventually mostly happened. It all started with the European Economic Community back in 1957, which was then absorbed into the European Union in 2009. It's kind of tough to say at this point what the future will hold for the EU, but the flowering-trading-communicating vision is still a nice one. Or is it? Ask Brexit supporters and anti-global-trade politicians.

Quote #3

I can see a day when all the Americas, North and South, will be linked in a mighty system, a system in which the errors and misunderstandings of the past will be submerged one by one in a rising tide of prosperity and interdependence. (87)

Colonization, disease-spreading, land-grabbing, bad trade agreements, war, violence, political coups—they'll all be forgotten in this new, beautiful future where everyone is rich and everyone is everyone's bestie. Maybe something like NAFTA would be a good idea. Or not.