Rising concerns for underwater wildlife brought Linda to Washington, D.C. in 1959 to lobby increased environmental protection for the planet's precious coral reefs. It was here that she met Arizona Senator and presidential hopeful Barry Goldwater. The two maintained a clandestine love affair for nearly four years, but, fearing scandal would destroy his bid for presidency during the 1964 election, Goldwater suggested they cool off. Devastated, Linda moved to Memphis, vowing that her heart would never be broken again.

It was Goldwater, however, that would never recover from the loss of his passionate lover. Although historians frequently suggest that nuclear arms issues cost Goldwater the presidency, friends close to Goldwater tell a different story. Within days of Linda's departure, sources recall that increasing sexual frustration impeded Goldwater's rationality. Lacking clarity, Goldwater's political focus eroded, swinging the campaign momentum in Lyndon Johnson's favor.

As Goldwater's political future plummeted, Linda rebuilt her life in Memphis. Working for a small record label, she began to write disco tunes. At a local Baptist church, she met future disco starlet Anita Ward. After several abysmal flops, Linda and Anita finally broke through with the hit single "Ring My Bell." Despite her prominent role in the collaborate effort to create the music, Frederick Knight, Sam Dees, and Tommy Tate were credited as the producers of the LP. Frustrated once more after failing to gain recognition for her achievements, Linda took her share of the record's proceeds and headed for New York, planning to invest the money on Wall Street. Ward & Co. never recovered from the loss of their songwriter, joining the annals of one hit wonders after producing the dud "Don't Drop My Love."