Election of 1960 & Camelot Years

The race for candidacy between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon was a close one. Nixon had the advantage of experience because he was the Vice President and had hoped to win by "riding on the coattails" of President Eisenhower's popularity. Kennedy was young, at age 43, but he had the support of African Americans and he was handsome and charismatic. His looks and charisma became of vital importance when the debates were televised. Nixon had hoped to show Kennedy's lack of experience in the debate on television on September 26, 1960, but Kennedy had the upper hand, having been coached by t.v. producers. The television age of politics proved to help Kennedy's campaign greatly. He was a better public speaker than Nixon and he looked better on the television, and the American public loved him for it. Kennedy's African American support came from his sympathy to the civil rights movement. When Martin Luther King Jr. was sentenced to an unfair punishment for a minor traffic violation, the Eisenhower administration did not intervene, and Nixon took no position on the matter. Kennedy took the time to call King's wife and let her know of his sympathy. His brother and campaign manager, Robert Kennedy convinced the judge who had ruled Martin Luther King Jr.'s case to let him out on bail. This act of support of civil rights was enough to swing many of the African American votes towards Kennedy's campaign. Kennedy ended up winning by less than 119,000 votes.
Kennedy's presidency fascinated the American public. His family became iconic, a role model for all American families. The newspapers and popular magazines were full of articles about the Kennedy's, stories of their kids and of Jacqueline Kennedy, the first lady. Jackie was loved by the public for her sense of style and beauty. She wowed people with her knowledge of languages, like french, and taste in music. The Kennedy term was nick-named the camelot years, in comparison to the court of King Arthur. One of John F. Kennedy's secret weapons was his team of advisors. This included McGeorge Bundy as national security advisor, Robert McNamara, the president of Ford motor company, as his secretary of defense, and Dean Rusk as the secretary of State. His brother Robert was the attorney general.

By Jennah

The Election of 1960 & the Camelot Years

As 1960 neared, voters were worried because the economy was entering a recession, Russia had launched Sputnik I in 1957, America’s military might appeared to be lagging behind the Soviets’, and Cuba sided with the Soviet Union. The two candidates that ran for the Presidential office in 1960 were Vice President Richard Nixon and Massachusetts senator John Kennedy. Although both candidates had similar positions on many issues, Nixon planned on using Eisenhower’s popularity to boost his own chances, while Kennedy used television and civil rights issues to boost his. Because Kennedy came from a wealthy family, he was able to have a well-organized and well-funded campaign. This greatly aided him, because many voters saw him as too young and inexperienced, and still others did not want a Roman Catholic in office; it could lessen the separation of church and state.

On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised presidential debate. Nearly 70 million viewers witnessed this event in action. Although Nixon was more experienced and was an expert on foreign policy, Kennedy spoke better and was more relaxed; he was coached my television producers. From that debate on, American campaigning was mainly done through television. An image could now be used as the “natural language of politics.”

Then in October of that year, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, along with 33 other African-American demonstrators. The others were released, but King was sentenced to months of hard labor under the pretense of a minor traffic violation. Nixon took no public position on this event, while Kennedy personally called King’s wife while his brother persuaded the judge who sentenced King to release him on bail. This greatly pleased the African-American community and helped Kennedy gain votes in the Midwest and South.

Kennedy’s inauguration sparked a new style for the First Family: they were now seen as graceful, elegant, and witty. Kennedy also inspired the country to be optimistic and hopeful, while also asking for commitment and sacrifice. In his famous speech, Kennedy implored Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy’s youth only aided him in expressing his charm and wit, and even his young and beautiful wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, helped improve his public image. The public did bite the bait. They became enthralled by every aspect of the Kennedy family’s life. John F. Kennedy’s ability to read 1,600 words a minute stirred thousands of people to enroll in speed-reading courses to become like the president, while many others were intrigued by Jacqueline Kennedy’s sense of style and culture. The First Family was well-known and universally liked, especially with the aid of numerous magazines, newspapers, and television programs. Such success and fame reminded many of a modern-day Camelot (the mythical court of King Arthur) because of how idolized the Kennedy family was during this time.

The election of President Kennedy was a turning point in American history; not only did it change the idea of how the First Family should be portrayed, but it also gave the country a new hope and optimistic outlook for the future under the leadership of this youthful, charming, and witty president.

~Michael B. Chun