JFK THINKING ABOUT SANFORD AS VP IN '64
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy discussed replacing Lyndon B. Johnson as Vice-Presidential candidate for 1964 with Governor Terry Sanford* of North Carolina.
In a private conversation with his personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln, the President said...
"I am going to advocate changing some of the outmoded rules...in Congress. To do this I will need as a running mate in '64 a man who believes as I do."**
Mrs. Lincoln asked...
"Who is your choice of a running mate?"
JFK answered...
"...I am thinking about Governor Terry Sanford of North Carolina. But it will not be Lyndon."
*James Terry Sanford (1917-1998) was born in Laurinburg NC & received his law degree at the University of NC at Chapel Hill. JTS served in WWII & later was a Special Agent for the FBI. JTS served as Governor of NC 1961-1965 & Senator 1986-1993. In between those two offices, JTS was the campaign chairman for VP Hubert Humphrey in the 1968 presidential race. After leaving politics, JTS was president of Duke University for 16 years.
**JFK was particularly miffed by the fact one of his bills was tied up in the House by a committee chairman who had seniority. He felt Gov Sanford represented the "New South" which he needed for re-election in 1964.
SOURCE
"JFK'S Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President," by Thurston Clarke, The Penguin Press, New York, 2013.
Gov Terry Sanford
Education Tour
Photo by
Lt. Lloyd Burchett (NCHP)
