Kennedy v. Nixon: The Presidential Election of 1960

305 Pages·2010·1.481 MB·English

by  Edmund F. Kallina Jr.

Kennedy v. Nixon
The Presidential Election
of 1960
Edmund F. Kallina Jr.
university press of florida
Kennedy v. Nixon
University Press of florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
KeNNedy
University Press of Florida
Gainesville · Tallahassee · Tampa · Boca Raton
Pensacola · Orlando · Miami · Jacksonville · Ft. Myers · Sarasota
v. NixoN
The Presidential Election
of 1960
Edmund F. Kallina Jr.
Copyright 2010 by Edmund F. Kallina Jr.
Printed in the United States of America.
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-0-8130-3485-0 (cloth)
ISBN: 978-0-8130-3654-0 (eBook)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kallina, Edmund F. (Edmund Frank), 1943–
Kennedy v. Nixon: the presidential election of 1960/Edmund F. Kallina Jr.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0-8130-3485-0 (alk. paper)
1. Presidents—United States—Election—1960. 2. Kennedy, John F. (John
Fitzgerald), 1917–1963. 3. Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913–1994.
4. United States—Politics and government—1953–1961. 5. Political campaigns
—United States—History—20th century. I. Title. II. Title: Kennedy vs Nixon.
III. Title: Kennedy versus Nixon. IV. Title: Presidential election of 1960.
E837.7.K35 2010 973.9219–dc22
2010015134
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State
University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida
Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International Uni-
versity, Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of Central
Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South
Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611–2079
http://www.upf.com
For Carol and all of our years together

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Cast of Characters xi
Introduction 1
1. National Party Politics in the 1950s 4
2. Kennedy and Nixon before 1960 25
3. John F. Kennedy and the Democratic Nomination 49
4. Richard M. Nixon and the Republican Nomination 81
5. The General Election Campaign, July 28–September 25 97
6. The General Election Campaign, September 26–October 21 117
7. Civil Rights and the General Election Campaign 135
8. The Final Days of the General Election Campaign,
October 22–November 7 158
9. November 8, 1960, and Its Aftermath 177
10. The Myths of 1960 201
Appendix 215
Notes 217
Sources 261
Index 279

Acknowledgments
The publication of this book would not have been possible without the help
and support of numerous individuals. I am acutely conscious of the debt
owed to so many people who helped me in this project.
The staffs at the John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B.
Johnson, and Richard M. Nixon Libraries provided invaluable assistance.
These libraries are national treasures. Similarly, I am most grateful to the
National Archives site at Laguna Niguel, California, and most especially
Paul Wormser for his patient and knowledgeable help. Laguna Niguel until
2006 was the repository for the vice-presidential papers of Richard Nixon.
In Florida, I would like to thank the Interlibrary Loan department of the
University of Central Florida Library. The Interlibrary Loan staff procured
numerous books, oral history interviews, and microfilm newspapers essen-
tial to this book. They did so with unfailing courtesy and efficiency.
Also at the University of Central Florida, I am thankful for the staff in
the History Department, especially Carole Gonzalez, Nancy Rauscher, and
Jennifer Krolowitz, who were always ready with a helping hand. Their ef-
ficiency along with their good-humored tolerance of my eccentricities will
remain with me the rest of my days.
With computers, word processors, and photocopiers, research is im-
measurably easier than it was fifty years ago. What is more burdensome is
the expense of extended stays away from home while doing research. I was
most fortunate that Steve DeZwart, Hank Royer, Lisl Fenwick, Heather Mc-
Crae, and Larry, Arleen, and Spencer Downing were kind enough to help me
find inexpensive lodging so that without great financial resources I could
conduct my research. Concordia University of Austin, Texas, is due thanks
for this reason as well.
I am appreciative of those who read and offered their comments on the
manuscript. Connie Lester improved the manuscript with her suggestions
on writing. A special tribute is due Irwin Gellman, who offered wise counsel
with good humor and an unrivaled knowledge of American politics in the
1950s. It is impossible to overstate his contribution. Only he knows how
much of a difference he made in the manuscript.
ix