Rosa Luxemburg
Banned
The Prologue
With an event as intriguing as the 1960 Presidential Election, we must look into how it all began and put together the pieces of why the results were what they were.
Both the Democratic and Republican primaries were indeed uneventful, as the eventual candidates, Vice President Richard Nixon, and Senator John F. Kennedy easily sweeped the primaries. However, the conventions were what led to this truly remarkable election.
During the Democratic Convention, held from July 11th to July 15th, Kennedy nominated Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson as his Vice Presidential running mate. This move suprised none, as both Jackson and Senator Stuart Symington were preferred by Kennedy and the DNC. With the nomination of a progressive senator from the North, the South was noticably displeased. Seeing this Vice President Nixon made a risky decision by nominating Kentucky Senator Thruston B. Morton to be his Vice Presidential candidate. While this move would certainly alienate some voters in the North, it would also appeal to voters in the South.
During the general election, Nixon abandoned his strategy of campaining in all 50 states, instead focusing on the South in what is now called "The Southern Strategy". Another thorn in Kennedy's side was a phone call he made to Mrs. Coretta Scott King after her husband, Martin Luth King Jr. was arrested for taking part in a civil rights protests. This hurt him with Southern voters, who were known for a lack of support for civil rights. Hurting Nixon, however, we the debates. The first ever televised Presidential debates were held. During the first debate, viewers noted that Nixon often looked tired and, due to the lighting, sweated a lot. Kennedy was widely agreed to have won that debate. During the second debate, viewers decided that it was ultimately a tie, but during the third and final debate Nixon had won. In the end, after a long and tiring election season, Richard Nixon had won the presidency.
Richard Nixon | Thruston B. Morton: 273 EVs
John F. Kennedy | Scoop Jackson: 235 EVs
Harry F. Byrd | Strom Thurmond: 29 EVs
With an event as intriguing as the 1960 Presidential Election, we must look into how it all began and put together the pieces of why the results were what they were.
Both the Democratic and Republican primaries were indeed uneventful, as the eventual candidates, Vice President Richard Nixon, and Senator John F. Kennedy easily sweeped the primaries. However, the conventions were what led to this truly remarkable election.
During the Democratic Convention, held from July 11th to July 15th, Kennedy nominated Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson as his Vice Presidential running mate. This move suprised none, as both Jackson and Senator Stuart Symington were preferred by Kennedy and the DNC. With the nomination of a progressive senator from the North, the South was noticably displeased. Seeing this Vice President Nixon made a risky decision by nominating Kentucky Senator Thruston B. Morton to be his Vice Presidential candidate. While this move would certainly alienate some voters in the North, it would also appeal to voters in the South.
During the general election, Nixon abandoned his strategy of campaining in all 50 states, instead focusing on the South in what is now called "The Southern Strategy". Another thorn in Kennedy's side was a phone call he made to Mrs. Coretta Scott King after her husband, Martin Luth King Jr. was arrested for taking part in a civil rights protests. This hurt him with Southern voters, who were known for a lack of support for civil rights. Hurting Nixon, however, we the debates. The first ever televised Presidential debates were held. During the first debate, viewers noted that Nixon often looked tired and, due to the lighting, sweated a lot. Kennedy was widely agreed to have won that debate. During the second debate, viewers decided that it was ultimately a tie, but during the third and final debate Nixon had won. In the end, after a long and tiring election season, Richard Nixon had won the presidency.
Richard Nixon | Thruston B. Morton: 273 EVs
John F. Kennedy | Scoop Jackson: 235 EVs
Harry F. Byrd | Strom Thurmond: 29 EVs
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