Barry Sr Goldwater

Republican Party activist Don Goldwater announced his candidacy in Sun City West for governor in 2006, sounding some of the conservative themes once heard from his uncle, 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. "The state is headed in the wrong direction," said the 50-year-old candidate. "We must return to the basic principles of limited government, individual liberty and economic freedom."

Arizona paid its last respects to the state's most prominent and popular politician on Wednesday, as Barry Goldwater was memorialized in a ceremony that joined military pomp with the conservative former U.S. senator's type of plain-spoken honesty. Speakers told of Goldwater's fearless honesty and unwavering patriotism and lamented his death as the passing of the last honest politician. Goldwater died Friday of natural causes at his mountaintop home in Paradise Valley. He was 89.

Arizonans lined up in Phoenix to pay their respects to five-term U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the one-time presidential candidate who became this state's favorite son, who died Friday at the age of 89. Visitation will continue today before a memorial service at Arizona State University's Gammage Auditorium. Former Vice President Dan Quayle and former First Lady Nancy Reagan are expected to attend today's service.

Barry Goldwater, the blunt-spoken, charismatic senator and failed presidential nominee who hurled conservative rhetoric as surely as old-time gunslingers from his native Arizona fired bullets, died Friday in his suburban Phoenix home. He was 89. Goldwater, who more than any other person was the catalyst who transformed the modern-day conservative movement from a lonely voice in the wilderness into a potent political force, died of natural causes, according to a statement released by his family.

Former Sen. Barry Goldwater's wife downplayed a newspaper's report that the conservative icon was near death. Susan Goldwater told Phoenix television station KSAZ that Goldwater's health has been declining, but his condition hasn't taken a turn for the worse. Several colleagues and friends said they hadn't heard or were awaiting word about Goldwater's condition. Some said they met with Goldwater recently and found him in reasonably good health.

Republican Party conservative patriarch Barry Goldwater Sr. said he was only joking when he suggested he could choose Democratic President Clinton over his Republican rival Bob Dole. During a scholarship forum in Tucson, Goldwater, 87, said he thinks Clinton is doing a good job. "I don't care if he's a Democrat or Republican--I would rather he be a Republican. But I think Mr. Clinton is going to be a good president," he said.

Former Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater has been released from the hospital where he was treated for a mild stroke, said Robin Cook of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Goldwater went home Saturday, Cook said, but his family had requested that his release not be made public. Goldwater, 87, the Republican candidate for president in 1964, was admitted about two weeks ago after the stroke was discovered during routine testing. He did not suffer any paralysis.