Edens ' political interest surfaced in 1960 when he organized a Republican club in his precinct during an exciting campaign year in which John F. Kennedy , to the great surprise of some political observers , carried South Carolina over Vice-President Richard M. Nixon . Stimulated by his entry into the world of politics , Edens served as the campaign co-chair to elect Charles E. Boineau , Jr. , to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1961 . Boineau became the first Republican member of the legislature in the twentieth century . Reflecting in 1976 upon his entry into politics , Edens wrote Strom Thurmond : " The major concern that caused me to become active in the Republican Party years ago was the question of deficit spending by the federal government . I am still deeply concerned that deficit spending will be the cause of the eventual downfall of our country . " In 1962 , Edens enlarged his political universe , working the entire state as chair of Republican W. D. Workman , Jr. 's Senate campaign against the Democratic incumbent Olin D. Johnston . By polling a surprising 43 percent of the vote , Workman proved the viability of the Republican Party in South Carolina . In February 1963 , Edens was elected chairman of the Republican Party of South Carolina . In the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco , Edens , as chair of South Carolina 's sixteen-man delegation , cast South Carolina 's votes for Barry Goldwater , putting Goldwater over the top and ensuring that he would oppose Lyndon B. Johnson in the presidential campaign . Edens chaired the Goldwater effort in South Carolina , where Goldwater proved wildly popular and received 59 percent of the vote
1964 Republican National Convention
1964 Republican National Convention
Drake Edens