"In May 1963, he caused an international uproar when he suggested on an ABC-TV "Issues and Answers" program that "defoliation of the forests by low-yield atomic weapons could well be done" to expose the supply routes for the flow of arms from North Vietnam to the Viet Cong guerrillas in South Vietnam.

Mr. Goldwater and his supporters argued strenuously that the senator had never suggested that atomic weapons actually be used, but the remark only provided fuel for his critics who contended the next year that electing Mr. Goldwater president could only increase the likelihood of a nuclear disaster."