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{{cquote|The United States should declare victory and get out.}}

{{cquote|The United States should declare victory and get out.}}

Aiken voted for the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> 1968,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78 TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> as well as the [[24th Amendment]] which banned [[poll tax]]es in federal elections.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/s226 S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>

Aiken voted for the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|1964]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> 1968,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78 TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> as well as the [[24th Amendment]] which banned [[poll tax]]es in federal elections.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/s226 S.J. RES. 29. APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION BANNING THE POLL TAX AS PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> He opposed amendments during the debate on the 1964 bill which would have weakened the landmark legislation.<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/12/09/the-most-comprehensive-civil-rights-debate-the-civil-rights-act-of-1964/ The Most Comprehensive Civil Rights Debate: The Civil Rights Act of 1964]. ''fascinatingpolitics.com''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>

While initially backing fellow [[liberal]] Northeastern senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1964|1964 presidential election]], Aiken soon endorsed the party's conservative nominee [[Barry Goldwater]].<ref>Stetson, Fred (February 13, 2005). [https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/george-aiken-in-his-own-words/article_758ae0e0-a700-52f1-a63e-a541b457dfa3.html George Aiken in his own words]. ''Rutland Herald''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/26/archives/goldwater-gains-in-moderate-wing-some-middleroad-gop-congressmen.html GOLDWATER GAINS IN MODERATE WING; Some Middle‐Road G.O.P. Congressmen Now Give Him Nominal Support]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> He previously stated in early January that Goldwater's odds depended on "whether he is able to dissociate himself from his weird and vulgar supporters."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/04/archives/republicans-hail-goldwater-move-miller-delighted-but-ada-aide.html REPUBLICANS HAIL GOLDWATER MOVE; Miller ‘Delighted,’ but A.D.A. Aide Assails Candidacy]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>

While initially backing fellow [[liberal]] Northeastern senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1964|1964 presidential election]], Aiken soon endorsed the party's conservative nominee [[Barry Goldwater]].<ref>Stetson, Fred (February 13, 2005). [https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/george-aiken-in-his-own-words/article_758ae0e0-a700-52f1-a63e-a541b457dfa3.html George Aiken in his own words]. ''Rutland Herald''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/07/26/archives/goldwater-gains-in-moderate-wing-some-middleroad-gop-congressmen.html GOLDWATER GAINS IN MODERATE WING; Some Middle‐Road G.O.P. Congressmen Now Give Him Nominal Support]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> He previously stated in early January that Goldwater's odds depended on "whether he is able to dissociate himself from his weird and vulgar supporters."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/04/archives/republicans-hail-goldwater-move-miller-delighted-but-ada-aide.html REPUBLICANS HAIL GOLDWATER MOVE; Miller ‘Delighted,’ but A.D.A. Aide Assails Candidacy]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>