"THE NEXT 4 YEARS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT"

KENNEDY DECLARED PRESIDENT-ELECT

Hyannis, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On November 9, 1960, John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the 1960 presidential election over Richard M. Nixon.  The electoral vote tally was 302 for Kennedy, 219 for Nixon, and 15 for Byrd.

The popular vote margin proved to be one of the closest in American history.  JFK won 34,220,911, RMN won 34,108,157.  It has been said that if just one vote had flipped in each district in the United States, Nixon would have won.

Secret service agents arrived at the Kennedy compound here in Hyannis at 5:45 a.m. already knowing "the names, faces and roles of each of Kennedy's people."

Senator Kennedy made his first public statement as president-elect at the Hyannis Armory* in Barnstable. 

 JFK said...

"The next four years are going to be difficult and challenging.  A supreme national effort will be needed to move this country safely through the 1960s." 

*Hyannis Armory (1958-2005) was headquarters of the Massachusetts National Guard.    Reporters who waited for JFK to appear, gave him a standing ovation when he made his entrance.  Today the Armory is part of the Kennedy Legacy Trail.

SOURCE

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Shuster, New York, 2011. 

JFK+50 NOTE

Eleven years ago today, November 9, 2010, JFK+50 made its first posting.  We have published daily since that time and have over a million hits.  We average over 200 hits per day and appreciate all who have logged on over the years.

In writing this post today, I marveled at how close to the same the electoral vote count was in 1960 compared to 2020.  JFK (D) got 302, Joe Biden (D) got 306, RMN & Byrd got 234, DJT got 232.

Politically we were a sharply divided nation in 1960.  We remain sharply divided today.  Some states have shifted party allegiances over that 60 year period, but otherwise the political divisions remain.

Perhaps what is most different today is the fact that we don't seem to want to unite behind the winner.  Nixon could have easily contested the result in 1960.  After all, he was so close, but for the good of the nation he did not.  He graciously accepted defeat and pledged his support for president-elect Kennedy.  

Thomas Jefferson said, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists."  We would be so much better off if we would say today, "We are all Democrats, we are all Republicans."  I don't like to be pessimistic, but the chances of that happening soon are about the same as my Tennessee Vols beating the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

GO VOLS! 

   

 

Statement by the President-elect

Hyannis, MA

November 9 1960

"ONE MUST HAVE AN OPTIMISTIC DISPOSITION"

ELEANOR'S ADVICE FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

New York City (JFK+50) First Lady of the World Eleanor Roosevelt* wrote...

"As the day (of the inauguration) approaches, the weight of the responsibility he will carry must grow heavier and heavier.  If he has the right temperament for the job, he feels confident of being able to face problems and...find solutions."

Mrs. Roosevelt continued...

"One must have confidence in oneself, trust in God, and (an) optimistic disposition."

Just as her words are applicable to her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, we hope,pray and expect that they are applicable to Joseph R. Biden who will become the 46th President of the United States at noon tomorrow.  

*Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was born in New York City & served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 making her the longest-serving First Lady in U.S. history.

AER's syndicated newspaper column "My Day" was published from Dec 31 1935 to Sept 26 1962. 

 SOURCE

"My Day:  January 18, 1961," by Eleanor Roosevelt, The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition, 2017, www2.gwu.edu/

 

 

 

President-elect John F. Kennedy & Eleanor Roosevelt

New York City

Oct 11 1960

NARA/FDR Library Photo

 

"ONE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ONESELF, TRUST IN GOD, & AN OPTIMISTIC DISPOSITION"

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT DESCRIBES PRESIDENT-ELECT

New York City (JFK+50) In her "My Day" column of January 18, 1961, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt* gave her description of the President-elect of the United States.  She wrote...

"As the day approaches, the weight of the responsibility he will carry must grow heavier and heavier.  If he has the right temperament for the job, he feels confident of being able to face...problems and...find solutions."

Mrs. Roosevelt continued... 

"One must have confidence in oneself, trust in God, and (an) optimistic disposition."

In the humble opinion of JFK+50, Eleanor Roosevelt described President-elect John F. Kennedy perfectly.

JFK+50 NOTE

In this same column, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote that the weather predictions for January 20, 1961 promised "clearing skies in the East," so she was hopeful for a "good day" for the inauguration.  As it turned out, there was a massive snow storm in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1961.  Inauguration Day did have clear skies, but also a great deal of snow on the ground and bitterly cold temperatures.

*Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was born in New York City and served as First Lady of the United States (1933-1945).  AER was U.S. delegate to the United Nations (1945-1952) & earned the nickname "First Lady of the World." 

SOURCE

Eleanor Roosevelt, "My Day, January 18, 1961," The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition (2017), www2.gwu.edu/
 

JFK & ER

New York City

October 11, 1960

NARA/FDR Library Photo

"NOW MY WIFE & I PREPARE FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION & A NEW BABY"

JOHN F. KENNEDY IS PRESIDENT-ELECT

Hyannisport, Massachusetts (JFK+50)  On November 9, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Election of 1960 and became the President-elect of the United States of America.

JFK learned of the outcome when his 3 year old daughter, Caroline, came running into his bedroom with the news.  John F. Kennedy would be sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961.

The President-elect made his first public statement later at the Armory here in Hyannisport.  Accompanied by his family, Mr. Kennedy received a standing ovation from the press corps as he stepped up onto the stage. 

After reading the text of telegrams from both Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK said...

"To all Americans I say that the next 4 years are going to be difficult and challenging years for all of us.   The election may have been a close one, but I think that there is general agreement by all of our citizens that a supreme national effort will be needed in the years ahead to move this country safely through the 1960s.

I ask your help in this effort & I can assure you that every degree of mind and spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long-range interests of the United States and the cause of freedom around the world.  So now my wife & I prepare for a new administration and for a new baby."
        

JFK+50 CELEBRATES 9TH ANNIVERSARY

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) JFK+50 celebrates its 9th anniversary today.
JFK+50's 1st posting was on November 9, 2010, 50 years to the day after John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Election of 1960.

In our 1st year, we had 352 postings with 78,000 visitors from 176 countries and 12,175 cities.

Today, as we begin our 10th year, JFK+50 has a total of more than 3200 postings with 875,000+ page views.

We continue to be gratified by the number of visitors to our blog from every nation in the world.  

Thank you for your continued interest in John F. Kennedy.

John White

SO NOW WE PREPARE FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION & A NEW BABY

KENNEDY DECLARED WINNER

Barnstable, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On November 9, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Election of 1960.  The Senator turned in just before 4 a.m. having worked through the night at his campaign headquarters at the home of his brother Robert F. Kennedy.

JFK learned of the outcome when his three year old daughter, Caroline, came running into his bedroom with the news.  He would be inaugurated on January 20, 1961 and at age 43 would become the youngest elected Chief Executive in American history. 

According to Chris Matthews, a detail from the Secret Service showed up in Hyannis at 5:45 a.m. and the agents already "knew the names, faces and roles of each of Kennedy's people."  When JFK "greeted and thanked his top political aides (Kenny) O'Donnell and (Larry) O'Brien" that morning, (the President-elect)...struck them both as a different man."

The President-elect made his first public statement at the Hyannis Armory* here in Barnstable.    Accompanied by his family, Mr. Kennedy received an unprecedented standing ovation from the press corps as he stepped up onto the stage.After reading the text of telegrams from both Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK said...

"The election may have been a close one, but I think that there is general agreement by all of our citizens that a supreme national effort will be needed in the years ahead to move this country safely through the 1960s.  

I ask your help in this effort and I can assure you that every degree of mind and spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long-range interests of the United States and the cause of freedom around the world.  So now my wife and I prepare for a new administration and for a new baby."

*Hyannis Armory (1958-2005) was the headquarters of the Massachusetts National Guard.  There was discussion of tearing the building down after 2005 but today the Armory is part of the Kennedy Legacy Trail & is open to the public.

SOURCE

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Shuster, New York, 2011.

Hyannis Armory

Photo by John Phelan (2012)

President-elect & Mrs. Kennedy

Hyannis Armory

November 9 1960

JFK+50 ANNIVERSARY

JFK+50 BEGINS YEAR 5

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50)  JFK+50 begins our 5th year of blogging today, November 9, 2014.  JFK+50's first posting was appropriately 50 years to the day after Senator John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Election of 1960.  Although voting was done on November 8, the final results were not known until the following morning.

In our first year, 2010-2011, we had 352 postings with 78,000 visitors from 176 countries and 12,175 cities. This is the 1406th  post. Now we have more than 500,000 page views all-time averaging 5000 per month.

Thank you for your continued interest in John F. Kennedy.

JFK DECLARED PRESIDENT-ELECT

Hyannisport, Massachusetts (JFK+50)  Fifty-four years ago today, Senator John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Presidential Election of 1960.  It was one of the closest elections in history.

The Senator turned in just before 4 a.m. having worked through the night at his campaign headquarters at the home of his brother and campaign manger, Robert F. Kennedy.

JFK learned of the outcome when his 3 year old daughter, Caroline, came running into his bedroom with the news.  He would be inaugurated on January 20, 1961 as the 35th President. At age 43, he became the youngest elected Chief Executive in American history. 

As described in yesterday's post, The President-elect made his first public statement on November 9, 1960 at the Armory here in Hyannisport.  

Accompanied by his family, Mr. Kennedy received an unprecedented standing ovation from the press corps as he stepped up onto the stage.

JFK Bumper Sticker 1960

JFK Library Image

After reading the text of telegrams from both Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK said...

"To all Americans I say that the next 4 years are going to be difficult and challenging years for all of us.  

The election may have been a close one, but I think that there is general agreement by all of our citizens that a supreme national effort will be needed in the years ahead to move this country safely through the 1960s.

I ask your help in this effort & I can assure you that every degree of mind and spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long-range interests of the United States and the cause of freedom around the world.

So now my wife & I prepare for a new administration and for a new baby.

Thank you."

KENNEDY DECLARED WINNER OF ELECTION OF 1960

November  9, 2013

KENNEDY DECLARED WINNER 53 YEARS AGO 

Hyannisport, Massachusetts (JFK+50)  53 years ago today, Senator John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Presidential Election of 1960 and became the President-elect of the United States of America.

Election Day, November 8, ended with no declared winner. 

The Senator turned in just before 4 a.m. having worked through the night at his campaign headquarters at the home of his brother and campaign manger, Robert F. Kennedy.

JFK learned of the outcome 53 years ago this morning when his 3 year old daughter, Caroline, came running into his bedroom with the news.

John F. Kennedy would be sworn in as the 35th President, at age 43, the youngest elected Chief Executive in American history. 

The President-elect made his first public statement later at the Armory here in Hyannisport.  

Accompanied by his family, Mr. Kennedy received a standing ovation from the press corps as he stepped up onto the stage.

           JFK Bumper Sticker 1960
                 JFK Library Image

After reading the text of telegrams from both Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, JFK said...


"To all Americans I say that the next 4 years are going to be difficult and challenging years for all of us.  

The election may have been a close one, but I think that there is general agreement by all of our citizens that a supreme national effort will be needed in the years ahead to move this country safely through the 1960s.

I ask your help in this effort & I can assure you that every degree of mind and spirit that I possess will be devoted to the long-range interests of the United States and the cause of freedom around the world.

So now my wife & I prepare for a new administration and for a new baby.

Thank you."

JFK+50 CELEBRATES 3RD ANNIVERSARY TODAY

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) JFK+50 celebrates its 3rd anniversary today.

JFK+50's 1st posting was on November 9, 2010, 50 years to the day after John F. Kennedy was declared the winner of the Presidential Election of 1960.

In our 1st year, we had 352 postings with 78,000 visitors from 176 countries and 12,175 cities.

Today, as we begin our 4th year, JFK+50 has a total of more than 1040 postings with 177,400+ visitors from 196 countries and 18,500+ cities around the world.

We continue to be gratified by the number of visitors to our blog from every nation in the world.  

Thank you for your continued interest in John F. Kennedy.

John White