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Election of 1960. Candidates Campaign Issues Role of the media The Election. Richard Nixon. Moderate Republican Nixon served on HUAC Vice President from 1953-1961 He was 47 years old and was seen as having a lot of experience with Foreign Policy and with communism. John F. Kennedy.
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Election of 1960 Candidates Campaign Issues Role of the media The Election
Richard Nixon • Moderate Republican • Nixon served on HUAC • Vice President from 1953-1961 • He was 47 years old and was seen as having a lot of experience with Foreign Policy and with communism
John F. Kennedy • Moderate democrat who graduated from Harvard and came from a wealthy upbringing • Was a hero in his service in the Pacific War • House of Representatives 1947-1953 • Senator 1953-1961 • He was 43 years old and seen as inexperienced and Catholic
The Issues of 1960 • Neither wanted to take a strong stance on Civil Rights • Kennedy advocated for an Armed invasion of Cuba, Eisenhower’s administration disagreed • Spread of Communism into Vietnam • How to deal with the slight recession at the end of the 1950s
Role of Media in the debates • Kennedy challenged Nixon to a series of debates • Electronic Media- forms of communication transmitted electronically to the general public; primarily radio and television • Viewers saw Nixon as old, worn, and tired • They saw Kennedy tan, rested, warm, hansom, and humorous • Radio listeners thought Nixon won and T.V. viewers thought Kennedy won
The Election • The debates swung favor towards Kennedy • 69 million people voted and the results were the closest in Presidential history • Kennedy received 49.7% popular, 309 electoral • Nixon received 49.5% popular, 219 electoral • Kennedy wins by just over 100,000 votes