Presidential election
1960 presidential election
John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon, winning 303 of 537 electoral votes and 49.7% of the popular vote.
Results
63.1%
Turnout rate
68.8M
Total votes cast
109.0M
Eligible voters
| State | Electoral votes | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois(IL) | 27 | DemocraticKennedy | +0.2% |
| Texas(TX) | 24 | DemocraticKennedy | +2% |
| Missouri(MO) | 13 | DemocraticKennedy | +0.5% |
| New Jersey(NJ) | 16 | DemocraticKennedy | +0.8% |
| California(CA) | 32 | RepublicanNixon | +0.5% |
Candidates
Party
DemocraticRunning mate
Lyndon B. Johnson
Home state
Massachusetts
Age at election
43
Previous position
U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
Campaign slogan
"A Time for Greatness"
Popular vote
34.2M
(49.7%)
Electoral votes
303
Party
RepublicanRunning mate
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
Home state
California
Age at election
47
Previous position
36th Vice President of the United States
Campaign slogan
"Experience Counts"
Popular vote
34.1M
(49.5%)
Electoral votes
219
Men
Kennedy
52%
Women
Kennedy
49%
White Voters
Nixon
52%
Black Voters
Kennedy
68%
Catholic Voters
Kennedy
78%
Key events
Kennedy Religion Speech
Addressed concerns about his Catholicism in Houston
First Televised Debate
Kennedy looked better on TV, Nixon better on radio
King Arrest Call
Kennedy called Coretta Scott King, Nixon didn't respond
Issues & context
First Catholic president elected. First televised presidential debates. Height of Cold War tensions. Civil rights movement growing. Youngest elected president.
Mild recession in 1960. Unemployment rose to 6.9%. Economic slowdown hurt Nixon as VP of Eisenhower administration.
Nixon was VP but Eisenhower's lukewarm endorsement hurt ('If you give me a week, I might think of one'). Kennedy offered new energy and vision.
Television changed politics forever. Kennedy's charisma became model for future candidates. Civil rights movement accelerated. Camelot mythology began. Closest popular vote in modern history.
Did you know?
- 1.Closest popular vote margin: only 112,827 votes (0.17%)
- 2.Kennedy was youngest elected president at 43
- 3.First president born in the 20th century
- 4.Television debate may have decided election
- 5.Chicago's Cook County vote count remained controversial for decades