The 1960 ElectionThe 1960 Election

JFK vs. NixonJFK vs. Nixon

The state of America in 1960The state of America in 1960

Economic prosperity of the 50s continues The “50s” don’t end until 1964!

The civil rights movement continued to intensify in 1960; sit-ins and boycotts

The Cold War continues to be dangerous, as the U.S. and U.S.S.R. continue to “talk tough” and build more nuclear weapons Cuba had just become Communist; U-2 incident

had chilled U.S./Soviet relations

Economic prosperity of the 50s continues The “50s” don’t end until 1964!

The civil rights movement continued to intensify in 1960; sit-ins and boycotts

The Cold War continues to be dangerous, as the U.S. and U.S.S.R. continue to “talk tough” and build more nuclear weapons Cuba had just become Communist; U-2 incident

had chilled U.S./Soviet relations

Richard Nixon: RepublicanRichard Nixon: Republican

47 years old Eisenhower’s Vice

President Was able to run for

President on the achievements of Ike

Growing reputation in foreign affairs following the “Kitchen Debate”

Eisenhower joked about Nixon’s input into important decisions: "if you give me a week I might think of one."

47 years old Eisenhower’s Vice

President Was able to run for

President on the achievements of Ike

Growing reputation in foreign affairs following the “Kitchen Debate”

Eisenhower joked about Nixon’s input into important decisions: "if you give me a week I might think of one."

John F. Kennedy: DemocratJohn F. Kennedy: Democrat

Senator from Massachusetts Wealthy, powerful political

family Only 42 years old (43 at

inauguration) Roman Catholic- a

controversial issue in 1960 Take out the “Meet JFK”

activity- what are the most interesting and important facts we need to know about JFK?

Senator from Massachusetts Wealthy, powerful political

family Only 42 years old (43 at

inauguration) Roman Catholic- a

controversial issue in 1960 Take out the “Meet JFK”

activity- what are the most interesting and important facts we need to know about JFK?

The Great DebateThe Great Debate

September 26, 1960: 70 million viewers

TV viewers thought JFK won; radio listeners gave the edge to Nixon

The power of image http://youtu.be/

8g1O7c4j0YU http://www.livingroomcan

didate.org/commercials/1960

September 26, 1960: 70 million viewers

TV viewers thought JFK won; radio listeners gave the edge to Nixon

The power of image http://youtu.be/

8g1O7c4j0YU http://www.livingroomcan

didate.org/commercials/1960

Civil Rights in 1960Civil Rights in 1960

Sit-ins spread: churches, beaches, motels, libraries, theaters (50,000 people participate)

Boycotts of national chain stores like Woolworths

“Jail, not bail;” non-violent passive resistance

Sit-ins spread: churches, beaches, motels, libraries, theaters (50,000 people participate)

Boycotts of national chain stores like Woolworths

“Jail, not bail;” non-violent passive resistance

JFK’s electoral “tightrope”JFK’s electoral “tightrope”

He needed the support of the southern segregationists AND northern African Americans

Vice Presidential choice from the South: Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Texas

JFK provides moderate support: endorses the sit-ins and promises to sponsor a civil rights bill when elected

October, 1960: Martin Luther King, Jr. forces the two candidates to take a side: he gets arrested during closing days of the campaign at a sit-in in Atlanta; sentenced to four months of hard labor for violating his probation

He needed the support of the southern segregationists AND northern African Americans

Vice Presidential choice from the South: Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Texas

JFK provides moderate support: endorses the sit-ins and promises to sponsor a civil rights bill when elected

October, 1960: Martin Luther King, Jr. forces the two candidates to take a side: he gets arrested during closing days of the campaign at a sit-in in Atlanta; sentenced to four months of hard labor for violating his probation

What do the candidates do about the MLK situation?What do the candidates do about the MLK situation? Nixon does nothing JFK calls Coretta Scott King and his brother arranges

for his release on bail; King is released a day later http://youtu.be/wCwz5-OFYmA Democrats print 2 million copies of pamphlet: “No-

Comment Nixon vs. a Candidate With a Heart, Senator Kennedy”

JFK wins 7 of 11 states in the South; 70% of African American vote- The African American vote decides the election in closest election of 20th Century (0.1%)

Nixon does nothing JFK calls Coretta Scott King and his brother arranges

for his release on bail; King is released a day later http://youtu.be/wCwz5-OFYmA Democrats print 2 million copies of pamphlet: “No-

Comment Nixon vs. a Candidate With a Heart, Senator Kennedy”

JFK wins 7 of 11 states in the South; 70% of African American vote- The African American vote decides the election in closest election of 20th Century (0.1%)

Was Nixon robbed? Hmm…Was Nixon robbed? Hmm…

http://www.slate.com/id/91350/ http://

www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36425-2000Nov16?language=printer

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-09-26-jfk-chicago-politics_N.htm

http://www.slate.com/id/91350/ http://

www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36425-2000Nov16?language=printer

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-09-26-jfk-chicago-politics_N.htm

“They stole it fair and square.”

Voter fraud?

“They stole it fair and square.”

Voter fraud?