Chapter 4 of Barry Goldwater’s book “The Conscience of a Conservative” focuses on his opposition to federal civil rights legislation. In this chapter, Goldwater expresses his concerns about the expansion of federal power and its potential infringement on states’ rights. He argues that while he supports the goals of civil rights and equality, he believes that these issues should be addressed at the state and local levels rather than through federal legislation. Goldwater writes:

“The position of the Negro today in America is the tragic but inevitable consequence of the colorblind Constitution. If it had not been for the Court’s decisions in the Civil Rights Cases, there would have been no great political issue between the two parties in the years following the war. The Reconstruction legislation would have been unnecessary.”

Goldwater’s argument revolves around his interpretation of the Constitution, emphasizing a strict constructionist viewpoint that limits the federal government’s role in individual states’ affairs. He believed that federal civil rights legislation infringed upon states’ rights, and that the government should not interfere with the internal affairs of states, even in matters of civil rights.

In Chapter 9, Goldwater discusses his thoughts on education, advocating for a return to local control and parental influence in educational matters. He argues that education is a responsibility that should primarily be managed at the state and local levels, as opposed to being influenced by federal government intervention. Goldwater states:

“Insofar as the federal government has an interest in education, it is to ensure that the money derived from taxpayers is devoted to its intended purpose, not siphoned off by corrupt urban machines or incompetent state or local educational bureaucracies.”

Here, Goldwater’s emphasis on local control and limited federal involvement aligns with his broader states’ rights principles. He believed that education should not be a matter for federal intrusion and that decisions about curriculum, funding, and policies should be left to individual states and local communities.

Goldwater’s positions in these chapters are consistent with his states’ rights principled conservatism outlined in Chapter 3 and his broader arguments in Chapters 1 and 2. In those earlier chapters, he articulates his belief in limited government, individual liberty, and the preservation of states’ rights as a means of safeguarding personal freedoms. Both his opposition to federal civil rights legislation and his thoughts on education reflect his overarching philosophy that the federal government should have a minimal role in the lives of citizens and that states should be empowered to make decisions that align with their unique needs and values.