The Kennedy Years – Part 1

Nixon v. Kennedy 

OBJECTIVES: 

1. Students will be able to identify John F. Kennedy and explain his background in relation to his political opponent, Richard Nixon.

1. Students will be able to explain the role of television and media in contributing to Kennedy’s election and popularity with the American people/elections today. 

PASSING THE TORCH 

• ·         Eisenhower had kept the United States safe and prosperous for eight years

• ·         1960 – Eisenhower’s vice president, Richard Nixon, made a bid for the presidency

• ·         His opponent was an upstart Catholic Democratic senator - John Fitzgerald Kennedy 

• ·         Both men were more similar than people realize

• o   Both born early 20^th Century
• o   Both served in the United States navy during World War II
• o   Both elected to Congress in 1946 and served in the Senate during the 1950s
• o   Both passionate about world affairs and the fight against Communism
• o   Both young, intelligent, energetic, hard-working, and willing to lead the nation

• ·          

• o   Kennedy was the son of a wealthy Boston businessman, his grandfather was a state senator, and his father was ambassador to Great Britain; decorated for rescuing his men in World War II after being injured;  his boat sank, and he swam to shore towing a badly burned crewman behind him by a vest rope clenched in his teeth

• ·          

• o   Nixon was from California, did not come from a wealthy family; struggled to make a living; balanced time between school studies and helping his family; served in navy but saw no active combat; respected for being the Vice President

Given how close the candidates mirror each other, what are some factors we have still to compare?

THE FIRST TELEVISED DEBATE SWAYS THE ELECTION: 

• ·         Candidates agreed to four televised debates, the first in American history

• ·         While campaigning, Nixon was hospitalized with a knee infection, and after being cleared, went on a grueling campaign schedule

• ·         Come debate time in Chicago, Nixon looked pale and exhausted with five o’clock shadow and did not use makeup to touch his appearance

• ·         Kennedy was well tanned from open-air campaigning in California looking healthy and confident; he used makeup to touch up his appearance on television

• ·         He was relaxed, charming, and quick-witted

You are going to experience the debate.  First, imagine you are a radio listener who did not see the debate.  Which of the candidates seems better?  Or are they pretty evenly matched?

Now, you are going to watch the debate.  Who, in your mind, won the debate?  Why?

KENNEDY WINS A CLOSE ELECTION

• ·         Kennedy was quicker on the draw for unexpected events; Martin Luther King Jr. and a group of African American students were imprisoned during a protest in Atlanta

• ·         Nixon did not mention the issue at all during interviews; Kennedy called King’s wife to express his concern and worked behind the scenes to obtain King’s bail; gave him strong support of African Americans during the election

• ·         The election of 1960 was the tightest race up to that point; the largest voter turnout in the country’s history

• ·         Kennedy won by less than 120,000 of the 68 million popular vote, but had a sizeable electoral college margin of 303 to Nixon’s 219

In your opinion, how important are televised debates to swaying support in an election?  How important is the role of the media in elections?

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