Confessions of a Street-Corner Conservative

In 1961, my senior year at Jersey City State College, I represented my school on a local television program in which students from the New Jersey state colleges were to question then-Governor Robert Meyner in a Meet-the-Press format. Before the program began, we met briefly with Meyner and I happened to mention to him a policy then advocated by Barry Goldwater. Meyner leaned across the table and with evident concern said: “But… you’re not one of his followers, are you?”

I mumbled that, well, gee, you might say that; I do, sort of, like some of the things Barry says. Meyner stared at me for a second or two. He didn’t grimace or blink or even shake his head. He just stared. He was probably wondering how a denizen of Jersey City could ever have even heard of Barry Goldwater, let alone embrace one of his policies. It was, to him, a sin against nature, Northern New Jersey-style.

WF

About the Author

William F. Gavin

Featured Tags

William F. Buckley Jr.

In 1961, my senior year at Jersey City State College, I represented my school on a local television program in which students from the New Jersey state colleges were to question then-Governor Robert Meyner in a Meet-the-Press format. Before the program began, we met briefly with Meyner and I happened to mention to him a policy then advocated by Barry Goldwater. Meyner leaned across the table and with evident concern said: “But… you’re not one of his followers, are you?”

I mumbled that, well, gee, you might say that; I do, sort of, like some of the things Barry says. Meyner stared at me for a second or two. He didn’t grimace or blink or even shake his head. He just stared. He was probably wondering how a denizen of Jersey City could ever have even heard of Barry Goldwater, let alone embrace one of his policies. It was, to him, a sin against nature, Northern New Jersey-style.