JFK+50: Volume 5, No. 1768
JFK ELECTED PRESIDENT 55 YEARS AGO TODAY
Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, November 8, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts was elected 35th President of the United States.
JFK was to be inaugurated on January 20, 1961 the youngest elected President in history as well as the first of the Roman Catholic faith. The Election of 1960 was the closest presidential contest in the 20th century. Vice-President Richard M. Nixon won 26 states with 219 electoral votes while Senator Kennedy carried 22 states with 303 electoral votes
Vice-Presidential nominees were Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. for the Republicans and Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democrats. The KENNEDY-JOHNSON ticket received 34,220,984 or 49.72% of the popular vote while the NIXON-LODGE ticket won 34,108,157 or 49.55%.
Harry F. Byrd, segregationist Senator of Virginia, running with Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, won 15 electoral votes.
The Vice-President watched returns from his suite at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Senator Kennedy, meanwhile, was at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.
JFK built an early lead with returns coming from urban centers, but RMN came from behind as later returns came in from rural areas and the West. Although Mr. Nixon spoke to his supporters at 3 a.m., he did not concede the election at that time.
Senator Kennedy went to bed after Nixon's appearance without knowing the final result. When Dave Powers asked him how he could do that, JFK said..."Because it's too late to change any votes."
Mr. Kennedy learned of his victory the next morning when his 6 year old daughter Caroline came running in to his bedroom with the good news.
The President-elect's first public appearance came on November 9, 1960 when he spoke briefly at the Hyannis Port Armory accompanied by his wife, Jacqueline, his father and mother, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and other family members.
JFK Bumper Sticker 1960
JFK Library Image
November 8, 1960
KENNEDY ELECTED IN A NAIL-BITER
JFK Library Image
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy was declared the winner of the Presidential Election of 1960 early this morning (November 9) over Vice-President Richard M. Nixon.
The final electoral vote totals are:
KENNEDY 302
NIXON 219
BYRD 15
The popular vote totals are:
KENNEDY 34,220,911
NIXON 34,108,157
BYRD 286,359
OTHER 216,982
JFK & Nixon were separated in the popular vote by 1/10 of 1% of the total vote.
During the 1960 campaign, Senator Kennedy promised to "get America moving again" while Vice-President Nixon lauded his experience in high office.
The 4 face-to-face televised debates during the campaign did much to enhance JFK's image & may well be considered a turning point in the campaign.
The President-elect is expected to make a statement to the press.*
On November 9, 1960, President-elect Kennedy & his family & supporters made an appearance at the Hyannis Port Armory.
JFK said:
"The next 4 years are going to be difficult & challenging. A supreme national effort will be needed to move this country safely through the 1960s.
I ask your help in this effort & I can assure you that every degree of mind & spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long range interests of the United States & to the cause of freedom around the world."
With his wife, Jacqueline (who is expecting a child later this month) standing by his side, JFK concluded his remarks by saying:
"And so now my wife & I prepare for a new administration & for a new baby. Thank you."**
**JFK+50 NOTE: NIXON won TENNESSEE by 7.15%. My state had gone for Eisenhower/Nixon in both 1952 & 1956. Since East Tennessee & Knox County is heavily Republican, at the age of 12, I knew no one who voted for JFK.
November 8, 1864
PRESIDENT LINCOLN WINS SECOND TERM
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Abraham Lincoln easily won a 2nd term today defeating the former general of the Army of the Potomac, George B. McClellan.
The final electoral totals are:
LINCOLN 212
McCLELLAN 21
The popular vote totals are:
LINCOLN 2,218,388
McCLELLAN 1,812,807
Mr. Lincoln campaigned under the banner of the National Union Ticket with Andrew Johnson of Tennessee as his running-mate.
Library of Congress Image
TOMORROW IS THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF JFK+50
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) One year ago tomorrow, November 9, 2010, JFK+50 was posted for the 1st time.
Here is that 1st posting:
I grew up in the 1960s & JFK became & remains today my hero.
I wrote many letters to the White House hoping to get an authentic signature
from the President. After many failed attempts, I wrote a long letter to JFK expressing my disappointment & desire to have him read & sign my letter personally.
In 1962, I received a letter from Ms. Evelyn Lincoln, the President's personal secretary. She said the President had read my letter & was "delighted" to sign the White House card which was enclosed.
I still possess the letter & card to this day & it is my "prized possession".
In November 1960, 50 years ago this month, JFK was elected the 35th US President. His Presidency ushered in an era of "hope & promise".
Although his election was a close one, by the time of his death, JFK had become one of the most popular Presidents, not just in the United States but around the world.
Thanks for reading the 1st post in my JFK +50 blog & please return for future posts.
John White
Knoxville, Tennessee*
*Since that post, JFK+50 has made 351 additional postings with more than 160,000 page views.
Since adding the NEOCOUNTER on Dec 17, 2010, we have had 78,500 visitors from 175 countries.
Please check back tomorrow for our ANNIVERSARY POSTING.
