[princeofdarkness]

After Bob Taft's death, Conservative Republicans were basically neutered during the Eisenhower years. Goldwater didn't have enough influence to affect the party philosophy. Plus there was very little policy wise that set apart the two parties.

[Liberty Wins]

"Goldwater didn't have enough influence to affect the party philosophy."

Partly because the backstabbing Rinos Nelson Rockefeller, William Scranton and George Romney (father of you-know-who) ripped into Goldwater continually during the 1964 campaign. A disgusting spectacle that was repeated every election cycle when a conservative was on the ballot, producing Reagan's Eleventh Commandment ("Thou shalt not criticize other Republicans.")