The Presidential Election

of 1960

The Candidates….

Background……

• Richard Nixon– Born 1913 in Yorba

Linda, California– Whittier College and

Duke Law School– Lt. Commander in US

Navy during WW II.– Elected to House in 1946,

Senate 1950.– Vice-President under Ike

for 8 years

• John Kennedy– Born in Brookline,

Massachusetts in 1917– Harvard – Lt. in US Navy; Pt109

Commander– Elected to House in

1946, Senate 1952– Published Profiles in

Courage 1957 – wins Pulitzer Prize

The race for the office…

• Both men were young, military veterans, lawyers, had political experience and similar views.

• However, many historians believe there were (2) important factors that decided the race…..

Televised Debates

• First televised debates in history.

• 70 million viewers tuned in, more on radio.

• The first debate, the telegenic Kennedy won the image battle over Nixon who, recovering from the flu, appeared pale and refused make-up.

JFK and MLK…

• When Reverend Martin Luther King was arrested in Atlanta, Kennedy called to offer his sympathy.

• This garnered Kennedy substantial African-American support in the 1960 election.

Election results….

Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

• President John F. Kennedy delivers his inaugural address at Capitol Hill in Jan. 20, 1961.

• Kennedy said, "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."

Links to video clips• Click HERE to view a 4 minute clip of the

debate between Kennedy and Nixon

• Click HERE to view JFK’s entire Inauguration and Inaugural Address

The End