The Death of Senator John F. Kennedy

The 1960 Democratic Nomination for President

1960 represented for the Democrats a chance to win the White House following eight years of being shut out by Eisenhower's popularity. Thus, a large throng of candidates developed, determined to win the nomination either through a good showing in the primaries or cajoling delegates at the national convention. Among those willing to campaign in the primaries were Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota, Senator and icon Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, Governor Averill Harriman of New York looking (like Kefauver) for one last chance at the Presidency, and Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri. As well, there were a number of favorite son candidates in different parts of the country. Others such as Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and Washington Senator Henry M. Jackson were waiting for the convention to make their move. By and far Humphrey was the man hardest campaigning for the Presidency on the ground and with no strong candidate from New England running, he saw his chance to make a name for himself early on in the New Hampshire primary.

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March 8th: the New Hampshire Primary
Humphrey: 43%
Harriman: 24%
Kefauver: 17%
Others: 16%

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April 5th: The Wisconsin Primary
Humphrey: 64%
Kefauver: 33%
Symington: 3%

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April 12th: The Illinois Primary
Humphrey: 42%
Kefauver: 25%
Stevenson (Write-in): 17%
Symington: 12%
Harriman: 4%

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April 19th: The New Jersey Primary
Harriman: 56%
Humphrey: 44%

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April 26th: The Massachusetts Primary
Humphrey: 38%
Harriman: 32%
Kefauver: 16%
Kennedy (Write-in): 14%

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April 26th: The Pennsylvania Primary
Harriman: 58%
Humphrey: 40%
Symington: 2%

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May 3rd: Indiana Primary:
Humphrey: 41%
Smathers: 28%
Kefauver: 23%
Symington: 18%
Uncommitted: 10%

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May 3rd: Ohio Primary
DiSalle: 60%
Humphrey: 40%

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May 3rd: Washington D.C. Primary
Humphrey: 57%
Uncommitted: 43%

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May 10th: Nebraska Primary
Humphrey: 62%
Kefauver: 38%

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May 10th: West Virginia Primary
Humphrey: 53%
Kefauver: 34%
Samthers: 13%

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May 17th: Maryland Primary
Smathers: 38%
Humphrey: 35%
Harriman: 14%
Kefauver: 13%

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May 20th: Oregon Primary
Humphrey: 44%
Kefauver: 39%
Morse (Write-in): 15%
Jackson (Write-in): 2%

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May 24th: Florida Primary
Smathers: 100%

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June 7th: California Primary
Brown: 57%
Humphrey: 43%

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June 7th: South Dakota Primary
Humphrey: 100%

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Green-Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota
Blue-Governor Averill Harriman of New York
Red-Senator George Smathers of South Dakota
Yellow-Favorite Sons

Following the primaries, Humphrey had the gift of momentum going into the convention. The Democratic National Convention, held in Los Angeles from July 11th to July 15th, was hectic. The main schemer attempting to win the nomination with only the support of the delegates was Texas Senator and Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson. A veteran of Democratic politics from decades earlier and a powerhouse as Majority Leader, Johnson posed a large threat to Humphrey's hopes. There were others as well including Henry M. Jackson of Washington and an emerging draft movement for Adlai Stevenson. It was Humphrey's job to overcome all of these and his campaign team did not have the prowess to do it. He would later write "We had the ability to win the people, but not the delegates." As ballot after ballot progressed, there were various times where Humphrey, Johnson, Stevenson, and even Smathers were leading. However, at last Johnson was nominated. In a small cession to the Humphrey team, Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota was nominated for Vice President.

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The two major contenders for the nomination, nominee Lyndon Johnson and runner-up Hubert H. Humphrey, at the DNC in a show of party unity
 
I have a hard time imagining Johnson gaining enough delegate support outside the South to snatch the nomination from Humphrey. It's also difficult to see how a campaign that seemed, judging by their string of victories, so well organized would drop the ball so completely at the convention. Also, given their OTL relationship, I would imagine that LBJ would tap HHH to be his running mate. McCarthy is too small a bone IMO. As you're closely paralleling the Kennedy-Johnson match-up of OTL 1960 why break it now - stay with it. JOHNSON1960HUMPHREY
 
If I'm not mistaken if Robert Kennedy named his son John F Kennedy he would be referred to as John F. Kennedy II not John F. Kennedy, Jr. A person is given the title junior only when they are the son of the person they are named after.
 
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