JFK - election

Question 1

Why JFK wasn’t popular at first

Answer 1

Catholic
Young - many assumed he was inexperienced
Not well known

Question 2

Why Nixon was popular

Answer 2

Seen as more experienced
Well known
Had a political reputation - Eisenhower’s “attack dog”

Question 3

How JFK won people over

Answer 3

Charming and witty
Exploited his contrast to elderly Nixon
Argued his religion didn’t matter when he fought in WW2

Question 4

TV Debate

Answer 4

1960
First televised debates between presidential candidates
90% of Americans owned a TV
JFK made sure to relax, he napped beforehand
Nixon was worn out from touring all 50 states
Nixon was recovering from an infection after injuring his leg, and had hit the same leg again on the way into the building

Question 5

TV Debate outcome

Answer 5

TV viewers mostly said JFK was better
Radio listeners mostly said Nixon was better
Estimated 3 million people chose to vote for Kennedy based on the debate

Question 6

Election result

Answer 6

JFK won 49.7%

Nixon won 49.6%