Laxalt eulogizes Goldwater as mentor, political giant

Friday, May 29, 1998 | 10:23 a.m.

Laxalt, a longtime friend and political and philosophical ally of Goldwater, said Goldwater "blazed the trail for the type of conservatism that has dominated government for the better part of three decades."

"Without his vision, courage and leadership, the conservative movement would probably have had a much less significant impact on our nation," he added.

"From a personal standpoint, Barry was my political godfather. He was responsible for my entry into national politics," said Laxalt, a former Nevada governor and U.S. senator from 1974 to 1986.

"Barry, although suffering a landslide defeat in 1964, helped more than anyone else to legitimize and popularize conservatism," said Laxalt, adding that Ronald Reagan "would not have been elected president without Barry Goldwater plowing the political ground before him."

Laxalt said he loved Goldwater's irreverence, but also understood that he took public service very seriously and "possessed, in rare abundance, a combination of intelligence, common sense integrity and good, old-fashioned decency.

"And what I loved most about Barry was that he didn't give a damn what others thought: He was going to speak his mind as long as it involved something in which he believed strongly."