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View attachment 323982 The 1960 presidential election is regarded as the closest in history. Despite being connected to a popular president and decent economy Richard Nixon struggled to excite voters to vote for him. This was in contrast to John F. Kennedy who's youth and charisma helped him excite voters and keep the election tight. However, party unity was a very important fact for the eventual winner. Nixon had locked up his nomination quite easily and with little to no opposition. Unfortunately, the Democrats had a very close nominating contest with Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Adlai Stevenson, Hubert Humphrey, and many other candidates running for the nomination. In the end however John F. Kennedy was able to get the nomination he selected Lyndon Johnson as his running mate angering liberals that had backed Stevenson and Humphrey. Despite that they remained in the Democratic column until a scandal involving Johnson occurred late in the campaign. Lyndon Johnson had the job of holding the South for the Democrats it was hard work but he managed to do it. However, that job often left Lyndon Johnson very tired. On this particular day he learned that Kennedy had called Martin Luther King's wife. Johnson was recorded saying many racist things about MLK and calling Kennedy a "God-damned moron". A tape was released of the words that Johnson had said. Black voters swung heavily towards Nixon and liberal voters disgusted by the words Johnson used stayed home on Election Day. Kennedy was angered when he saw Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota were called for Nixon. He graciously conceded to Nixon, but in the back of his mind he was convinced that he should have picked a different running mate. Kennedy would latter recall,"The pain in my back pails in comparison to the pain my father's disappointment caused me that day." Future events would leave the Kennedy family glad he lost the election. Nevertheless, the election was over and African-American's were hopeful that the Nixon administration would be sympathetic to their concerns.