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The Sixties: A Political Timeline






(Note: There are 3 PODs. These PODs are not linked, just numerous coincidences that happen in the same timeline. Hope this is OK with the community.)



8/5/44
Dear Mr. Kennedy,

We are sorry to inform you that your son, Lieutenant John F. Kennedy, US Navy, has been killed in action in the Pacific Theater. The President sends his deepest regards.

Sincerely,
The United States Navy

“First, Jack was killed in the Pacific. Then, almost a year later, we get news that my Junior had been killed in his bomber over England. I’d had it. I wanted Bobby home, and I’m glad he came home. It was a law in the military that, if there are a group of brothers in the armed forces, and all but one are killed, the one survivor is supposed to be brought home. And so he did. I can’t imagine what would have happened if Bobby had not come home. Considering our luck, he probably would have been killed.”

-[FONT=&quot]Mr. Ambassador: The Memoirs of Joseph P. Kennedy [/FONT] by Joseph Kennedy, published 1966


“We have breaking news; Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, the Democratic senator from Texas, has died from a huge stroke. The Democratic Senators will be convening sometime this year to elect a new Senate Majority Leader.”

-CBS News Transcript, 1955

Democratic Majority Leader Convention Election, October 3 1955:

[FONT=&quot]Senator James E. Murray – 37[/FONT]
Senator Hubert H. Humphrey – 10
Senator James O. Eastland – 1
Senator John Sparkman – 1




The New York Times August 14, 1956


[FONT=&quot]ADLAI STEVENSON NOMINATED BY DEM PARTY; SEN. HUBERT HUMPHREY NOMINATED FOR VP[/FONT]

“I think there were two reasons why Stevenson picked Humphrey as his running mate; one, he was from Minnesota, and was popular in the North. Two, Humphrey was one great guy at convincing the public. If he talked, you’d have to be either pretty dumb or pretty tough not to be convinced he was right. Perhaps that’s why he did as well as he did in 1960.”

-Jimmy Daring, Stevenson’s campaign manager in 1956



[FONT=&quot]President Dwight Eisenhower / Vice President Richard Nixon (R) - 372 EV[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Former Governor Adlai Stevenson / Senator Hubert Humphrey – 159 EV[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Incumbent President: Dwight David Eisenhower (R-PA) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]President-Elect: Dwight David Eisenhower (R-PA)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Incumbent Vice President: Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Vice-President-Elect: Richard Milhous Nixon (R-CA)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“Ladies and Gentlemen,” began the senator from Minnesota. The crowd applauded, and Senator Humphrey held up his hand. The night was fine, but his ticket had just lost. Perhaps this is for the better[/FONT][FONT=&quot], the senator thought, thinking about his future plans. The crowd stopped after a few minutes.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Humphrey began again, “Three months ago, my party nominated me for vice president, and Adlai Stevenson, the man I respect and think of as a great candidate for vice president, for president. It was a great ticket, in my opinion. However, let this election not be about winning, but let it be that Adlai and I accept this as America’s word.” Another burst of applause. After a few minutes: “The people wanted President Eisenhower for another term, and as every American should, I stand by this president. I would like to congratulate him – “ Then, to his surprise, there were boos. This is against what I campaigned for[FONT=&quot], he thought. He waited for them to stop, but they didn’t. They kept shouting the dreaded sound. “Please,” he said finally, “Don’t boo him. Instead, congratulate him. He is as American as I. Like I was saying, I congratulate the inumbent, but yet I still state: Let us look forward to the next four years. 1960. That is the year we elect a new president, and a new vice president. I urge you Americans: Look for the right candidate, and elect him. It will be better for America and for the future. Good night, everyone, and God bless the United States.”[/FONT][/FONT]

-[FONT=&quot]Humphrey’s concession speech, November 6, 1956[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]“I hereby declare my candidacy for president of the United States, for the Democratic presidential nomination.”[/FONT]

-[FONT=&quot]Senator Hubert Humphrey’s Candidacy Announcement, December 2, 1959[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]TO BE CONTINUED[/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]What do you guys think? Of course, I'll take any criticism or praise. This is only a rough draft, and once I finish it, I'll furnish it up to put it in the Timelines & Scenarios section. Update later. [/FONT]
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