By the time the convention got to the Roll Call of the States on Wednesday night, the only suspense was which state in the alphabetical roll call would put Senator Goldwater over the top. Massachusetts cast 26 votes for Scranton. There were five for Goldwater, the same five he had come to San Francisco with — nobody had switched. But Goldwater was now five votes closer to nomination.
The South Carolina delegation was seated directly behind Massachusetts. As the roll call progressed, excitement grew among the South Carolinians. Those keeping a tally of the votes looked at each other with expressions of increasing anticipation. Pennsylvania voted. South Carolina pencils marked the new numbers down swiftly and added them on. Without waiting for Rhode Island, South Carolinians jumped on chairs, pounded each other on the back. “We gonna do it! We gonna do it!” they shouted to each other, to their Massachusetts neighbors, and to everyone else within hearing range.
And they did it.
“South Carolina!”
“Mistah Chaihman, we are humbly grateful that we can do this foh America. South Cah’lina casts all its sixteen votes foh Barry Goldwatuh!”
The Cow Palace erupted in cheers, whistles, and foot pounding. With 655 votes needed for nomination, South Carolina had brought Goldwater to 663. It seemed that almost the whole convention was standing on chairs screaming in delight and waving Goldwater signs and banners. But Buzz noted that in a handful of delegations, including Massachusetts, most of the delegates remained in their seats or stood solemnly in front of them as a new Goldwater demonstration surged up the aisles.
First ballot totals showed 883 for Goldwater, 214 for Scranton.
Delegation chairman Saltonstall had been on the winning side at every Republican convention since 1928 — until tonight. But hiding his chagrin, he was on his feet, waving the Massachusetts standard seeking recognition to move for unanimous endorsement. Some of the state’s delegates walked out rather than be a part of it. Others yelled across the seats, “No! No!” But Salty ignored them and made the announcement anyway, “Maz’chusetts wishes to change its vote . . . ”
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