The [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 1964|Republican primaries]] of 1964 featured liberal [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of New York and conservative [[Barry Goldwater]] of Arizona as the two leading candidates. Shortly before the California primary, Rockefeller's wife, whom he had just married the previous year soon after divorcing his previousfirst wife, gave birth;.<ref name="Davies">{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Lawrence E. |date=June 4, 1964 |title=Goldwater, Narrowly Beating Rockefeller, Sets California G.O.P. on a New Course |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/04/archives/goldwater-narrowly-beating-rockefeller-sets-california-gop-on-a-new.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY |page=22 |via=[[TimesMachine]]}}</ref> This thisevent drew renewed attention to hisRockefeller's family life, which hurt his popularity among conservatives. Rockefeller's divorce and helpedremarriage were viewed by many observers as helping Goldwater win the primary.{{Citation<ref needed|datename=March 2009}}"Davies"/> An anti-Goldwater organization called for the nomination of former Governor [[William Scranton]] of Pennsylvania, but the effort failed. Although former President [[Dwight Eisenhower]] only reluctantly supported Goldwater after he won the nomination, former President [[Herbert Hoover]] gave him enthusiastic endorsement. By the end of the primaries, Goldwater's nomination was secure.
Senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]]'s name was entered for nomination at the Convention, the first time a woman's name was entered for nomination at a major party convention.
