Donald Trump fundraiser to be held at Barry Goldwater's old home in Paradise Valley
- The fundraiser in Paradise Valley will take place before a rally in central Phoenix
- Saturday's visit will be Trump's fourth campaign stop in the Valley
An exclusive fundraiser featuring presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will take place at the landmark former home of Barry Goldwater, the five-term conservative U.S. senator from Arizona who clinched the GOP nomination for the presidency in 1964 over more moderate rivals.
Goldwater, who died in 1998 at the age of 89, built the ranch-style home in Paradise Valley in 1957. He named the house ''Be-nun-i-kin,'' which is Navajo for ''house on top of a hill.'' On Jan. 3, 1964, Goldwater officially announced his presidential intentions from the patio of the residence. He would lose to President Lyndon Johnson in a historic landslide.
Bob and Karen Hobbs, business and civic leaders who campaigned for Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election, paid $4.1 million for the property in 2000.
The location of the 2 p.m. Saturday Trump fundraiser was confirmed by someone who received an invitation and will be attending the event.
An out-of-the-way site in Paradise Valley
Trump's insurgent GOP run has invited numerous comparisons with Goldwater's doomed bid. Like Trump, Goldwater upended the Republican establishment in the primaries but faced a difficult general-election landscape. However, despite his dramatic defeat at the polls, Goldwater's candidacy is credited with helping to remake the Republican Party and paving the way for fellow Cold War conservative Ronald Reagan's victory in the 1980 presidential race.
Fundraising planners were scouting Phoenix-area homes for more than a week leading up to Trump’s Saturday rally. Ideally, they were looking for a safe, out-of-the-way location that would be difficult for protesters to gather at.
Trump's harsh rhetoric about immigrants and border security has offended many Latinos and mobilized activists against him. In March, anti-Trump demonstrators blocked the main routes into Fountain Hills in advance of a Trump rally.
The old Goldwater home also offers rich political history and grand views overlooking the community.
Roughly 75 donors and supporters are expected.
The invitation to the fundraiser says the address will only be provided “upon RSVP.”
The fundraiser will command a $25,000 per-couple donation to be recognized as a member of the host committee. A photo with the reality-TV star will cost a cool $10,000, according to an invitation. Individual tickets cost $2,700.
Proceeds will benefit "Trump Victory," a joint fundraising committee of the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and the GOP parties of 11 states.
Goldwater home's uniquely Arizona feel
The Goldwater home originally was designed in the shape of an arrowhead, and constructed with sandstone from the Navajo Reservation, according to an Arizona Republic story from 2000. One of the home’s signature features was a ham radio shack where Goldwater talked with people around the world and connected Arizona soldiers with their families during the Vietnam War.
The architectural firm that renovated the property featured the home on its website, saying building materials were salvaged and reused for the new construction.
"A gallery of artifacts invites all who enter to be comfortable and fondly remember the life of Arizona's Senator," the website states. "We designed unique furnishings with indigenous Ironwood, Mesquite, Ponderosa Pine and Saguaro Ribs in harmony with our clients' collection of Indian artifacts and the 360-degree angles of the 1957 architecture. Colors of the desert, mountains and sunset were selected to celebrate this essentially western 'house on a hill.' "
After the fundraiser, Trump will headline a 4 p.m. campaign rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.
Republic reporter Catherine Reagor contributed to this article.
