Hmmm... This Has A Familiar Ring To It, No ???

[WillyT]

<snip>

The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D. Eisenhower's two terms as President. Eisenhower's Vice President, Richard M. Nixon, who had transformed his office into a national political base, was the Republican (GOP) candidate.

The Democrats nominated Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy (JFK). He was only the second Roman Catholic to become a major-party presidential candidate (the previous one was Democrat Al Smith in 1928). During the campaign, Kennedy charged that under Eisenhower and the Republicans America was falling behind the Soviet Union in the Cold War, both militarily and economically, and that as President he would "get America moving again".

Nixon responded that, if elected, he would continue the "peace and prosperity" Eisenhower had brought the nation, and that with the nation engaged in the Cold War, Kennedy was too young and inexperienced to be trusted with the Presidency. The electoral vote was the closest in any presidential election dating to 1916, and Kennedy's margin of victory in the popular vote is among the closest ever in American history. The 1960 election also remains a source of debate among some historians as to whether vote theft in selected states aided Kennedy's victory.

And...

The following political leaders were candidates for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. With the exceptions of Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, and Adlai Stevenson, these men were "favorite-son" candidates without any realistic chance of winning the nomination: (see link for full list)

And...

Recalling the experience of 1928 Catholic Democratic presidential nominee Al Smith, many wondered if anti-Catholic prejudice would affect Kennedy's chances of winning the nomination and the election in November. To prove his vote-getting ability, Kennedy challenged Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey, a liberal, in the Wisconsin primary. Although Kennedy defeated Humphrey in Wisconsin, the fact that his margin of victory came mostly from heavily Catholic areas left many party bosses unconvinced of Kennedy's appeal to non-Catholic voters.

Kennedy next faced Humphrey in the heavily Protestant state of West Virginia, where anti-Catholic bigotry was said to be widespread. Humphrey's campaign was low on money and could not compete with the well-organized, well-financed Kennedy team. Kennedy's attractive sisters and brothers combed the state looking for votes, leading Humphrey to complain that he "felt like an independent merchant running against a chain store." On primary day Kennedy crushed Humphrey with over 60% of the vote. Humphrey withdrew from the race and Kennedy had gained the victory he needed to prove to the party's bosses that a Catholic could win in a non-Catholic state. In the months leading up to the Democratic Convention Kennedy traveled around the nation persuading delegates from various states to support him. However, as the Convention opened Kennedy was still a few dozen votes short of victory.

<snip>

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1960

:shrug:

[Recursion]

1. H. Clinton reminds me of H. Humphrey in a lot of ways

The 1960 primaries are not the least of them

[monmouth]

2. JFK was my first vote, and this does have a very familiar ring. We were

astonished at the silliness over the "Catholic" thing. That debate with JFK and Nixon was a duzy. The lighting was awful for Nixon, he had not shaved either and Kennedy just looked like a breath of fresh air, smiling, at ease in all his handsomeness. Ahhh, I remember it well.

[CTyankee]

3. My first vote as well. I lived in NYC at the time, fresh out of college.

I wish I could relive what it was like being alive at that time. This beautiful couple were swept into the White House. I remember being giddy with excitement and hope after the gray years of the Eisenhower administration, altho Ike looks better and better to me the more the Republicans open their yaps.

[monmouth]

5. I remember meeting Ike when I was a youngster when he was in Atlantic

City. My dad was head of communications for NJ Bell at the old convention center. He was a very sweet old man (to me at least). I bet he would turn over in his grave if he could see how the repug party turned out. He'd a kicked kkkarl's ass from here to tinbuktu....

[CTyankee]

7. Yeah, Ike wouldn't recognize his party today. Not many of the old guard would.

Even in 1960 I had respect for Ike and what he did for his country in WW2. Not so much for Nixon, tho. So it wasn't like I was voting against Ike. I just knew I was part of something wonderful, a change that would be great for our country.

I loved Jackie...

[Posteritatis]

12. Was the atmosphere at all similar at the time? (nt)

[jwirr]

4. JFK overcame any inexperience he had by surrounding himself

with some of the greatest minds of his time in his cabinet.

[WillyT]

6. Yep... They Were Called "The Best And The Brightest" !!!

I'm pretty sure Barack will do the same.

:shrug:

[grantcart]

8. k and r

[Tennessee Gal]

9. Barack is no JFK.

[WillyT]

11. How Do You Know That ???

Did you work on JFK's Campaign ???

:shrug:

[YOY]

14. Seems to have the charm of him

and he's caputured the youth's interest. As opposed to Hillary...who has made many of the youth sick with the idea of a Democratic legacy in the spirit of the Republican one...

[kentuck]

10. I recall that was one of the primary charges against JFK..

He didn't have enough experience. He had not been in the Senate long enough, etc..

[CTyankee]

13. Eleanor Roosevelt was such a huge backer of Adlai she used to swipe at JFK for that

and also for having "more profile than courage." I loved JFK but I also revered and loved Mrs. Roosevelt, so I didn't like all the infighting...kinda like DU today, only without the foul language...