Presidential Election of 1960

In the United States of America presidential election of 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F Kennedy won the closely contested election with a very low victory margin of just about 0.17%.
US economy in recession helped Kennedy edged past the Republican rival Richard Nixon.

1960 Presidential Election Results

Richard NixonRepublican Party
John F KennedyDemocratic Party

1960 presidential election results

Political Situation:

1. Cold war continues.
2. US economy in recession.

Close States (margin<6%):

Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Population by Race for the United States : Year 1960

United States race diversity 1960

Biography of Richard Nixon (Republican presidential candidate):

1. Nixon served as Vice President of USA for two terms.
2. He entered the Navy in 1942, served in combat areas of the south pacific.
3. Elected to congress in 1946 and 1948.
4. Graduated in high standing from Whitter College, California and school of law at Duke University.

Biography of John F Kennedy (Democratic presidential candidate):

1. John F Kennedy was the son of a US Ambassador to Great Britain.
2. Kennedy was the Navy Lt in command of a PT boat. He received the Navy and Marine Corps medal for his heroic effort in directing the rescue of his servicemen to safety and for swimming for many hours to secure aid and food.
3. Served as US Senator, US Representative from Massachusetts
4. He won the Pulitzer prize for his book Profiles in Courage about the US Senators who risked their careers for their personal beliefs.