The long road to the White House in the 1960 campaign between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon comes to a dramatic end. In this final episode, we’ll look at the last days and hours before the election, the uncertainty of possible recounts afterward, and look ahead to how both candidates approached the future. We’ll also how lessons learned in 1960 still resonate today.
Featuring interviews from David Axelrod, Amy Dacey, Adam Frankel, Fredrik Logevall, Timothy Naftali.
View the transcript for this episode.
From the JFK Library Archives
Transcript of JFK's acceptance speech, November 9, 1960.
Telegram from President Eisenhower to JFK congratulating him on being elected president, November 9, 1960.
Press Secretary Pierre Salinger's oral history, July 19, 1965.
The Election of John F. Kennedy, film produced by the United States Information Service covering the 1960 election of John F. Kennedy as President (narration throughout the film), edited from various sources for presentation abroad in English-speaking countries.
City Upon the Hill speech, January 9, 1961.
From the JFK Library
State-by-state results of the 1960 election
Other Material
Nixon's concession speech, November 9, 1960 (University of Southern California)
"The Nixon Answer" in Michigan, October 9, 1968 (Richard Nixon Foundation)
Credits
JFK's Hyannis Port speech and coverage courtesy of NBC.
Donald Trump on mail in voting clip courtesy of CNBC.
Chris Wallace clip courtesy of Fox News
Hosts and producers: Matt Porter and Jamie Richardson
Co-producer: Rick King
Research assistants: Megan McKee and Cassie Marando
Special thanks to our Foundation colleagues, in particular Meaghan Hohl and Executive Director Rachel Flor.
We also thank all of our guests for lending their voices and expertise to this podcast.
None of this would be possible without the work by archivists and other staff at the JFK Library and Museum, who make much of the material discussed available to all online and to visiting researchers.
Logo: Brian Kang
Music: Blue.Session