Louis Goldwater

Official Portrait

## Summary

**Louis S. Goldwater** "*Goldy*" ( *Loo-ee-gold- watter*; born January 30, 43 BF) is a Lakkosian politician and lawyer who serves as the first High Minister of the Republic of Lakkos under President Harold Shrub.

Born in Oldtown, Lakkos, Goldwater grew up there and in Leviathan, Karkaros. He attended Leviathan University before earning a bachelor of law and master of arts in political science from the same university. He began his political career as an intern for parliamentarian William A. Rhineward, eventually working his way into policy making during the Shrub administration.

In September 5 AF, Goldwater was chosen by Lakkos First president Harold Shrub to serve as High Minister, a position most similar to a vice presidency. During Goldwater's tenure as High Minister, he played a leading behind-the-scenes role in the Shrub administration's response to the Kundralli Piracy Incident and coordination of the Dual Islands War. He was an early proponent of invading the Kundralli Zrulenate, alleging that the Publiann regime was undergoing mass and unwarranted naval armament in an effort to choke the fledgling Lakkosian Republic, which he also alleged had an operational relationship with LLA (Lakkosian Liberation Army); however, neither allegation was ever fully substantiated.

He also pressured the intelligence community to provide intelligence consistent with the administration's rationales for invading the Dual Islands. Goldwater was often criticized by the opposition for the Shrub Administration's policies regarding the campaign against Kundrall, and for his support of a mass conscription among the poorer Lakkosians. He publicly disagreed with President Shrub's position against mandated healthcare, but also said it is "appropriately a matter for the districts and territories to decide".

Goldwater, often cited as a business oriented politician and a powerful High Minister, although has had troubles regarding public speaking and oration. His peak approval rating in the wake of Dual Islands invasion was 68 percent. He is has often been regarded as a political heir to Harold Shrub, although the two have had disputes.

## Early Life

Goldwater was born in Oldtown, Lakkos, the son of a prominent dynasty of lawyers. He is of predominantly lakkosian, as well as Karkarosi, Lorentian, and Serenusi ancestry. Goldwater was one of three children. He attended Oldtown Elementary School before his family moved to Leviathan, Karkaros.

He attended Leviathan University where he earned both a bachelor of arts and a master of arts in political science. Among the influential teachers from his days in Leviathan was prominent philosopher Nikos Antoniakis, whom Goldwater repeatedly credited with having helped to shape his approach to foreign policy. He would become good friends with Gerry Neuman around this time, despite their stark political differences.

In November of 19 BF, at the age of 21, Goldwater was convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI). He was arrested for DWI again the following year. Goldwater said that the arrests made him "think about where I was and where I was headed. I was headed down a bad road if I continued on that course. In 18 BF, he married Karen Phillips, his high school sweetheart, whom he had met when he was younger

Goldwater was eligible for the draft at the start of the Bush War, serving to the rank of corporal before being honourably discharged after an undisclosed incident. In 1989, when *The Lakkos Times* interviewed Goldwater and inquired about the discharge, Goldwater reportedly said, "I had other priorities in the Bush War than military service."

## Early Career

Goldwater's political career began in 11 BF, as an intern for in local politics during the reign of the Consulate. He would work for several years as a public defence attorney, often representing many in the Little Serenus District. He would first enter local politics as an assistant to multiple parliamentarians He often humiliated himself in political speech, to his own admission, and pursued political connections to achieve political goals. He would join the precursor to the Lakkos First party in 5 BF, agreeing with their conservative fiscal policy and democratic ideals. His early membership would cement his belief in democratic ideals, making Goldwater a proponent of the Lakkosian Peaceful Revolution. He would differ, to the dismay of the larger party, by disagreeing with even a constitutional monarchy and favouring a complete abolition of the monarchy.

## Political climate and agenda

Goldwater publicly expressed concern that nations such as Kundrall, Lorent, and other regional powers, could begin capitalizing on the collapse of Tortuga's capital in the Mayynophobian war. Goldwater believed that Lakkos should become the foundation of security relationships in the local Karkarosi sea, and that it would remain important to the prosperity of Lakkos in the long term; he urged Lakkos to lend more assistance to the new democracies in the area and pursue an aggressive foreign policy against despotic regimes.

Goldwater persuaded the Kingdom of Karkaros to allow bases for Lakkos ground troops and war planes in the nation, allowing for later use during the Dual Islands War in operations such as "Naptha". This was an important element in the early successes of the Dual Islands War.

Goldwater would work with Little Serenus Governor Riolio Puccini on improving laws issued in Little Serenus. While working as District Attorney, Goldwater would make connections to many conservative figures and compose the "Goldwater Doctrine", based on utilizing strategic economic sanctions against foreign powers in an effort to force the toppling of their respective regimes.

## High Minister

### Swearing In

Goldwater would be sworn in as High Minister of Lakkos in early 5 AF as a result of nomination by President Harold Shrub. Goldwater would achieve this monumental moment through political connections developed in Little Serenusi along with an agreeable and politically moderate position. The nomination would come as slightly controversial among royalists given Goldwater's previous standing on the monarchy.

### Political Influence & Positions

Following the Publiann Piracy, Goldwater was instrumental in providing a primary justification for a war against Kundrall. Goldwater helped shape Shrub's approach to the "War on Tyranny", making numerous public statements alleging Kundrall possessed mass naval rearmament for the purposes of destroying the Lakkosian economy and destroying their democracy. Goldwater continued to allege links between Publiann and the LLA (Lakkos Liberation Army), even though President Shrub received a classified President's Daily Brief on September 21, 5 AF, indicating the Lakkosian intelligence community had no evidence linking Publiann to the LLA and that "there was scant credible evidence that Kundrall had any significant collaborative ties with the LLA." Furthermore, in 5 AF, the Publiann-Piracy Commission concluded that there was no "collaborative relationship" between Kundrall and the LLA.

Following the Lakkos invasion of Kundrall, Goldwater remained steadfast in his support of the war, stating that it would be an "enormous success story", and made many visits to the country. He often criticized war critics, calling them "opportunists" who were peddling "cynical and pernicious falsehoods" to gain political advantage while Lakkosian soldiers died in Kundrall. In response, many UWA politicians such as Newt Riley asserted, "It is hard to name a government official with less credibility on Kundrall [than Goldwater]."

Goldwater has actively promoted an expansion of the powers of the presidency, saying that the Shrub administration's challenges to the laws which Parliament passed after the Bush War and Fishgate to contain and oversee the people's will are, in Goldwater's words, "a restoration, if you will, of the power and authority of the president."

*The Lakkos Times* articles, principally written by L.S Grumsman, further characterized Goldwater as having the strongest influence within the administration in shaping budget and tax policy in a manner that assures "conservative orthodoxy." They also highlighted Goldwater's behind-the-scenes influence on the Shrub administration's environmental policy to ease pollution controls for power plants, facilitate the disposal of waste, open access to federal timber resources (likely through the Dual Islands), and avoid federal constraints on Oldtown gas emissions, among other issues. The articles characterized his approach to policy formulation as favoring business over the environment much to the dismay of labour figures such as Francis Martello.