After leaving office , Eisenhower did not completely retreat from political life . He flew to San Antonio , where he had been stationed years earlier , to support John W. Goode , the unsuccessful Republican candidate against the Democrat Henry B. Gonzalez for Texas ' 20th congressional district seat . He addressed the 1964 Republican National Convention , in San Francisco , and appeared with party nominee Barry Goldwater in a campaign commercial from his Gettysburg retreat . That endorsement came somewhat reluctantly because Goldwater had in the late 1950s criticized Eisenhower 's administration as " a dime-store New Deal " . On January 20 , 1969 , the day Nixon was inaugurated as President , Eisenhower issued a statement praising his former vice president and calling it a " day for rejoicing "
1964 Republican National Convention
1964 Republican National Convention
Dwight D. Eisenhower