PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1960 TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Hyannis, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On November 8, 1960, voters in the United States cast their ballots in a historic presidential election between Vice-President Richard M. Nixon (R-California) and Senator John F. Kennedy (D-Massachusetts).
By midnight, with returns still coming in, the race was too close to call. Senator Kennedy had enough of a lead, however, to bring the Vice-President out to address his supporters. While Mr. Nixon, acknowledged he was behind at that time, he did not concede.
Senator Kennedy, stationed at campaign headquarters at his brother's home here on the Cape, decided at 3:40 a.m. to turn in. David Powers, JFK's friend and political adviser asked,
"Jack, how can you go to bed now?"
Mr. Kennedy responded...
"Because it's too late to change any votes."
JFK+50 NOTE
According to Scott Bombay, the New York Times "called the election for then-Senator Kennedy just before midnight," but the NBC radio & television network waited until 7 a.m. November 9th to announce JFK as the winner.
NBC's "cumbersome computer," however, begin to say "Kennedy Wins, Kennedy Wins," at 2 a.m. Bombay offers no explanation as to why NBC waited 5 hours before making the announcement.
SOURCE
"The drama behind President Kennedy's 1960 election win," by Scott Bombay, November 7, 2017, National Constitution Center, www.constitutioncenter.org/
