The Election of 1960

The Election of 1960

U.S. History B

For the Democratic Party...

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

• Current U.S. Senator

• Grew up in Massachusetts

• Catholic (came under controversy for this)

• From​ a wealthy family

• Harvard graduate

• ​U.S. Naval Reserve (disqualified from full enlistment due to back issues)

For the Republican party...

Richard milhous nixon

• ​Current Vice President

• ​Grew up in California

• ​Quaker (a form of protestant Christianity)

• ​Family had financial struggles

• ​Offered enrollment at Harvard, but due to father's poor health he remained close to home and attended local college, Duke University of Law

• Also part of the U.S. Naval Reserve​

Multiple Choice

Which nominee was the current Vice President?

• Kennedy

• Nixon

Multiple Choice

Which nominee attended Harvard University?

• Kennedy

• Nixon

Multiple Choice

Which nominee would have gained more support from the lower-class of America based on their family's economic status?

• Kennedy

• Nixon

The Debates

Both candidates made a few similar promises:

1. Work to​ boost the economy

2. ​Work to eliminate the forces of Communism and the Communist threat within America

Nixon claimed he was more equipped to handle foreign policy due to his prior government experience as vice president

Nixon's Promise

Work to close "the missile gap"

The United States was

lagging behind the U.S.S.R. in

atomic weaponry​

Kennedy's Promise

In addition...

Open Ended

Based on what you have read, who do you think the American people during the Cold War should pick and why? Justify in 3 sentences.

The Debates

While both candidates were very well-spoken and knowledgeable, citizens of America found one major distinction:

​

Kennedy tended to be more relaxed and outgoing

​nixon tended to be more formal and stiff

The REsults

John F. Kennedy Wins!​

​He only won the popular vote by 118,574 votes out of roughly 68 million votes cast

KEY Factors: youth and optimism towards the future... "Modern America"​

Open Ended

As President of the United States in the midst of the Cold War and the Red Scare, list 3 priorities that you think JFK should have now that he has been elected.

Please now go watch the edpuzzle on the jfk Inauguration