The 1960 Presidential election was one of the closest elections in history. The two candidates who were striving for the presidency were Vice President Richard M. Nixon and your brother, Sen. John F. Kennedy. This was also a very grueling campaign from the primaries all the way to the November election. Throughout the election season there are many issues that are brought up, both international and domestic issues and issues with each of the candidates. In this memo I will talk about the 1960 election and show you the reasons why John F. Kennedy won and the issues which dominated the campaign. The first issue that was brought up was age and experience of the two candidates. Supporters of Nixon thought that he has been best fit, because
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Kennedy won the 1960 election. One of the reasons he won was because of his vice presidential pick, Lyndon B. Johnson. Before Johnson was Vice President, he was a senior senator from Texas. Not only was Johnson a senator but he was also the senate majority leader (Sevaried 280). Kennedy, a junior senator from Massachusetts, needed a politician like Johnson for two reasons. The first reason is that he was in congress for over 25 years and the second reason was that he was a southerner from Texas. Kennedy needed a strong leader in the senate especially one that was in a huge leadership position and who had lots of friends in Congress. This would be even more important for him when he needs to push legislation through congress. Having Johnson would build a bridge in the executive and legislative branch. Lyndon Johnson was also important because he was a senator from a southern state, Texas. Kennedy would not have won the election if it was not for Texas. Texas had a total of 24 electoral college votes huge for Kennedy. It also helped him in many other southern states. Robert Caro, author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson The Passage of Power, discussed that Johnson’s sole job in the campaign was to hold the South. This was a tough task, especially because President Eisenhower took five out of the eleven southern states (Caro …show more content…
The election was also very important because it was the first time African Americans really participated during the campaign and were backing up a candidate, Sen. Kennedy. This election also diminished the idea religion and politics. It sets the path for minorities and politicians who had religious affiliations and see that voters embraced other’s faith and dominations. This election also changed the game of politics and public interest. Many politicians and political pundits learned a lot from this campaign. Politicians learned the important details put into both the scenery and issues of the debate. Campaign strategist learned that campaigning in swing states is more beneficial than trying to spread their campaign across the nation. The 1960 election was an election that no one would
Kennedy won the 1960 election. One of the reasons he won was because of his vice presidential pick, Lyndon B. Johnson. Before Johnson was Vice President, he was a senior senator from Texas. Not only was Johnson a senator but he was also the senate majority leader (Sevaried 280). Kennedy, a junior senator from Massachusetts, needed a politician like Johnson for two reasons. The first reason is that he was in congress for over 25 years and the second reason was that he was a southerner from Texas. Kennedy needed a strong leader in the senate especially one that was in a huge leadership position and who had lots of friends in Congress. This would be even more important for him when he needs to push legislation through congress. Having Johnson would build a bridge in the executive and legislative branch. Lyndon Johnson was also important because he was a senator from a southern state, Texas. Kennedy would not have won the election if it was not for Texas. Texas had a total of 24 electoral college votes huge for Kennedy. It also helped him in many other southern states. Robert Caro, author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson The Passage of Power, discussed that Johnson’s sole job in the campaign was to hold the South. This was a tough task, especially because President Eisenhower took five out of the eleven southern states (Caro …show more content…
The election was also very important because it was the first time African Americans really participated during the campaign and were backing up a candidate, Sen. Kennedy. This election also diminished the idea religion and politics. It sets the path for minorities and politicians who had religious affiliations and see that voters embraced other’s faith and dominations. This election also changed the game of politics and public interest. Many politicians and political pundits learned a lot from this campaign. Politicians learned the important details put into both the scenery and issues of the debate. Campaign strategist learned that campaigning in swing states is more beneficial than trying to spread their campaign across the nation. The 1960 election was an election that no one would