Who Were the Candidates?
The 1960 U.S. presidential election is remarkably denoted in the annals of U.S. history as a triumph for liberalism over conservatism. This election incorporated John F. Kennedy of the democratic party and two terms serving Republican vice president Richard M. Nixon. John F. Kennedy, popular known by his initials JFK, before accession to the presidency, served as a Democratic senator of Massachusetts (Library of Congress, Par. 1). JFK subsequently won in the 1960 hotly contested elections defeating Republican vice president Richard Nixon who had served as second in command to Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Despite the hot contest between these two remarkable figures, the democratic party was a little disadvantaged owing to the relatively unknown nature of JFK and the age of this fronted contender. Notably, JFK is recorded in American history as the youngest president at the age of 43 to ascend the presidency. Furthermore, JFK was the first Catholic Christian believer in ascending the presidency. The Republican candidate Richard Nixon was strategically advantaged to assume office since the reigning government was Republican, and he was the vice president of the current regime. However, this notion was soon broken as the democratic candidate JFK won the electorate college votes with 303 votes for himself and 219 votes for Nixon (History.com Editors, Par. 9). JFK won the popular votes garnering a total of 34,226,731. In contrast, his closest rival garnered 34,108 157 votes. JFK won slightly with over 118 574 votes, narrowly defeating his nearest challenger, further cementing the liberalism ideologies in a conservative America (History.com Editors, Par. 9).
What were the Issues?
This election served as one of the closest contested elections in the history of the U.S. at the height of cold war tension. The series of events leading to this election, the pangs of cold war tension, and the ideological confrontation anchored on capitalism fronted by the U.S. and communism championed by the Soviet Union disadvantaged the democratic ideologies in a conservative America. In 1957, three years before the election date, the Soviet Union unleashed the Sputnik- a one-of-a-kind artificial satellite to orbit around the earth (National Archives, Par. 1). This advancement in space technology by the Soviets sparked a debate among American leaders of their backlogging in science and technology, thus eliciting pressure to the incoming administration and campaign message and manifestos designs (National Archives, Par. 1).
Moreover, in 1960 an American Affiliated U-2 spy plane was shot down while hovering the Soviet Union airspace leading to the capturing of the plane’s pilot (National Archives, Par. 2). This factor subsequently led to the cancellation of a planned visit to Moscow by the then republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower, alongside the collapsing of a scheduled meeting with the Soviet Nikita Khrushchev (National Archives, Par. 2). The Cuban revolutionary regime further worsened this factor under the mantle of Fidel Castro. He had built bilateral relations with the Soviet Union increasing the fears of a communist takeover of the Western Hemisphere. At this time, the public opinion polls indicated that most Americans perceived the inevitability of war with the Soviets (National Archives, Par. 2).
As a result, JFK, upon choosing the then-senator of Texas, Lyndon Johnson as his running mate, Kennedy anchored his campaign strategy against communism ideologies globally (National Archives, Par. 4). In contrast, JFK’s challenger Richard Nixon at the age of 47 and four years older than JFK, anchored his campaign message on the organizational success of Eisenhower’s regime and affirmed to his supporters that the American prestige, military prowess and leadership were number one priority. Nixon settled for Henry Cabot Lodge- U.S. ambassador to the U.N. as his running mate (National Archives, Par. 5). Nixon appeared to most voters as experienced and matured in foreign matures as opposed to his rival JFK and consequentially, after the national conventions led in the opinion polls.
What factors helped decide the election?
His opponent’s inexperience and immaturity perceptions of JFK subsequently diminished in the first nationally televised debate against Nixon. These four series of national discussions were crucial factors in deciding the election. JFK, through his dressing and auspicious identity, tabled his arguments concisely, affirmed his grasp on foreign affairs matters, and shared his vision for America. The direct consequences were an improved perception and the diminishing of the inexperience and immaturity notion, thus improving the polls. JFK adopted a strategic address to the camera, speaking on matters affecting the U.S. and thus drawing on overall support. In contrast, Nixon, whose mode of dressing blended with the background of the debate setting, adopted a relatively conservative debate approach that majored in rebottling JFK and thus did not obtain new support. JFK utilized these debates as an avenue to sell his plan and prove himself as a worthy candidate, which he significantly achieved, a factor that determined the election.
What were the voting trends?
At the beginning of the campaign period, republican candidate Richard Nixon was ahead of the democratic candidate JFK. Due to their experience and maturity in handling governance and foreign affairs matters, Nixon was vastly preferred to JFK. Furthermore, the administrative success of incumbent Dwight D Eisenhower favoured Nixon’s campaigns, and thus the opinion polls fronted Nixon as the leading candidate. However, the debate series subsequently favoured JFK, who had undoubtedly prepared for the first debate. From his dressing mode, JFK appeared auspicious and outperformed his opponent, thus drawing attention to himself in this televised debate. JFK utilized this platform to cancel the notion of inexperience and immaturity by showing his grasp of foreign affairs matters. These debates gradually increased the eligibility of JFK, thus drawing more support that later granted the democratic party a win despite the close contention.
What is the Lasting impact this Election had on Us History?
This election is unique in the history of the U.S., first from the democratic party candidature. JFK, by age, was young, relatively unknown, and subscribed to catholic religious doctrine factors that, to some extent, disadvantaged him. Nonetheless, he defeated all the odds to become the 35th president of the U.S. Secondly, the events leading to the 1960 elections furthered the agenda of Republicans, and the trend favoured a Republican regime. Democrats were technically disadvantaged owing to an incumbent Republican regime under president Eisenhower. The Republicans fronted a candidate who was the incumbent vice president and thus had drawn support from the beginning of the term, thus fronting a guaranteed win. However, a determined JFK under the democratic party candidature outperformed all odds and ascended to the presidency. This election is a symbolic representation of the American Dream that all is possible with hard work, dedication and commitment.
Works Cited
History.com Editors. “Memorable Elections.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 12 Jan. 2010, www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/memorable-elections.
Library of Congress. “The Presidential Election of 1960: the Post War United States, 1945-1968: U.S. History Primary Source Timeline: Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress: Library of Congress.” The Library of Congress, Congress.Gov, 2022, www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/post-war-united-states-1945-1968/presidential-election-1960/.
National Archives. “Campaign of 1960.” Campaign of 1960 | JFK Library, JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/campaign-of-1960.
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