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President [[Eisenhower]] was leaving office and his Vice President, [[Richard Nixon]], decided to run for President. Without serious opposition, Nixon was able easily to win the Republican nomination. However the Democrats were divided between young Massachusetts Senator, [[John Kennedy]], and Texan Senator, [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].  When Kennedy won the Democratic nomination he offered Johnson the position as his running mate.  Nixon and Kennedy both campaigned long and hard.  Nixon had experience as the Vice President and was expected to win.  Several things were in Kennedy's way, such as his youth and Catholicism.  Kennedy was able to answer most of the complaints successfully. However what probably helped Kennedy the most were the live televised [[Presidential Debates]].  In the debates Kennedy looked confident and handsome, while Nixon looked pale and out of place.  The election was still very close, but in the end Kennedy claimed the victory.  <ref>  [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, John F. Kennedy]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1987, pp. 59-63.  </ref>

President [[Eisenhower]] was leaving office and his Vice President, [[Richard Nixon]], who had worked hard for the Republican party, was the unchallenged successor. The Democrats were divided between young Massachusetts Senator, [[John Kennedy]], and Texan Senator, [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].  When Kennedy won the Democratic nomination he offered Johnson the position as his running mate.   

 

Nixon and Kennedy both campaigned long and hard.  Nixon had experience as the Vice President and had advantages, but there were more Democrats in the electorate.   

 

Religion proved a major issue, as Kennedy's strength among Catholics was numeroically more powerful than the doubts harbored by many Protestants about the dangers of a president under the control of the Pope in Rome.  

 

Kenedy gained in the live televised [[Presidential Debates]].  In the debates Kennedy looked confident and handsome, while Nixon looked pale and out of place.  The election was still very close, but in the end Kennedy claimed the victory.  <ref>  [[Encyclopedia of Presidents, John F. Kennedy]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1987, pp. 59-63.  </ref>

==Election Results<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1960 1960 Presidential Election Results]</ref>==

==Election Results<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1960 1960 Presidential Election Results]</ref>==

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<ref>  [[A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents]], by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, 2001, p. 125.  </ref>

<ref>  [[A Pictoral History of the U.S. Presidents]], by Clare Gibson, Gramercy Books, 2001, p. 125.  </ref>

 

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:1960, United States presidential election,}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1960, United States presidential election,}}

[[Category:United States Presidential Elections]]

[[Category:United States Presidential Elections]]