JFK LOSES VP NOMINATION TO TENNESSEE'S KEFAUVER
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On August 17, 1956, John Fitzgerald Kennedy lost his first and only political contest to Senator Estes Kefauver* of Tennessee.
The Massachusetts senator was defeated in the balloting for the Vice-Presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago.
Senator Kefauver won the nomination on the second ballot after his colleague, Tennessee Senator Albert Gore, Sr. bowed out of the race and threw his support to Mr. Kefauver.
Senator Kennedy gave a gracious concession speech after the balloting in which he asked the convention to make Kefauver's nomination unanimous.
The defeat proved to be advantageous for Senator Kennedy as the Stevenson-Kefauver ticket was soundly defeated by Eisenhower-Nixon in November.
JFK's stock in the Democratic ranks grew rapidly after the general election and he would win his party's presidential nomination four years later.
*Carey Estes Kefauver (1903-1963) was born in Madisonville, TN & earned his BA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He played tackle & guard for the Vols. CEK earned his law degree at Yale before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives 1939-1949. CEK served in the U.S. Senate 1949-1963.
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On August 17, 1956, John Fitzgerald Kennedy lost his first and only political contest to Senator Estes Kefauver* of Tennessee.
The Massachusetts senator was defeated in the balloting for the Vice-Presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago.
Senator Kefauver won the nomination on the second ballot after his colleague, Tennessee Senator Albert Gore, Sr. bowed out of the race and threw his support to Mr. Kefauver.
Senator Kennedy gave a gracious concession speech after the balloting in which he asked the convention to make Kefauver's nomination unanimous.
The defeat proved to be advantageous for Senator Kennedy as the Stevenson-Kefauver ticket was soundly defeated by Eisenhower-Nixon in November.
JFK's stock in the Democratic ranks grew rapidly after the general election and he would win his party's presidential nomination four years later.
*Carey Estes Kefauver (1903-1963) was born in Madisonville, TN & earned his BA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He played tackle & guard for the Vols. CEK earned his law degree at Yale before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives 1939-1949. CEK served in the U.S. Senate 1949-1963.
Senator Estes Kefauver
Tennessee (D)
