1960
Television-age politics arrives
John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Vice President Richard Nixon, becoming the first Catholic president and the youngest person elected to the office. The four televised debates were pivotal — Nixon appeared sweaty and haggard against Kennedy's tan, relaxed composure, and those who watched on TV thought Kennedy won while radio listeners called it a draw. Kennedy carried Illinois and Texas by razor-thin margins amid allegations of voter fraud. His popular vote margin was just 112,827 votes.
Cold War; Cuba; civil rights; Kennedy's Catholicism; economic growth
First Catholic president; first televised debate transformed campaigning; won by just 112,827 popular votes
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Curated picksFreedom from Fear
David M. Kennedy
Pulitzer-winning history of the Depression and WWII.
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Robert A. Caro
Volume 3 of the LBJ biography.
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