the goldwater conservatives fought this establishment from 1960, defeated it in 1964 and eventually retired most of its members, although some became democrats like senator charles goodell and mayor john lindsay in new york. president richard nixon adopted many of their positions, especially regarding health care, welfare spending, environmentalism and support for the arts and humanities. after congressman john b. anderson of illinois bolted the party in 1980 and ran as an independent against reagan, the liberal gop element faded away. their old strongholds in the northeast are now mostly held by democrats.