Essay: NOW IS THE FOR ALL GOOD MEN . . .

(6 of 6)

More from More It would be an outrageous generality to say that the most money always wins. In 1966, Georgia's Segregationist Lester Maddox proved that a polemicist can be elected Governor just by saying the right thing to the right people. He did not even give away campaign buttons: he sold them. In 1964, Barry Goldwater's campaign for the presidency cost the most ever ($19.3 million) and lost by the biggest margin ever. What Goldwater also did was to bring the Republican Party 72% of its gifts in amounts of less than $500, making the G.O.P. for the first time in 106 years the party of the smaller contributor. This was largely the accomplishment of a zealous minority who cared about what the candidate stood for.

There is a lesson in that. Right now, with or without reforms, the one vital step that every citizen can take is to cough up a small campaign contribution in support of the party, principle or candidate that means the most to him. Only if millions of Americans come to the aid of their principles in election year 1968 will their parties truly reflect their wishes and flourish as free institutions.