1. Read pages 670-672 Answer the following questions:
Who ran in the 1960 election?
Why were Americans hesitant to elect Kennedy?
Why were African Americans voting for Kennedy?
What was the Kennedy Mystique?

2. The New Frontier

3. Questions to Ponder…
What led to the rise of the television in the 1950s?
How many people (%) had them in their homes by 1960?
How do you think the TV revolutionized Presidential Campaigns?

4. Candidates John F. Kennedy Jr. Richard M. Nixon
From a wealthy and influential family in Massachusetts
A Catholic
Appeared out going and relaxed to the public
Richard M. Nixon
From a struggling family in California
A Quaker
Appeared formal and almost stiff to the public

5. Main Issues of the 1960 Election
Campaign centered around the economy and the Cold War
Promised:
Boost the economy
“Cold Warriors”
Kennedy:
Argued that Cuba’s dictator, Castro was allying himself with the Soviets
Believed that there was a “missile-gap”
Nixon:
Argued that the U.S. was on the right track
Argued that Democratic’ fiscal policies would boost inflation, and that he only had foreign policy experience
Kennedy came under scrutiny about being Catholic… Many protestants believed that having a Catholic Pres. would be bad because they would ultimately be under the rule of the Pope.
He actually addressed this issue by stating that he believes in an absolute separation of church and state.

6. The Election of 1960: Televised Debate
TV ads for campaigns originated in 1948
Idea of campaigning through television took off in the 1960’s election
Democrats (Kennedy) spent $6 million in TV and radio spots
Republicans spent $7.5 million
1960 election: a large number of voters used the TV as a voting tool

7. The Debate 4 televised debates that strongly influenced the outcome
Kennedy won the popular vote
& the Electoral College
303 votes to 219
Won by a narrow victory
Many were captivated by his youth and optimism

8. 1960’s Debate..

9. The Kennedy Mystique: Inaugural Address
Captured the imagination of the American public
Drawn to his youth and optimism
January 20th, 1961
Calls on Americans to take an active role in making the U.S. a better place

10. Jackie O.

11. Inaugural Address
Write a 1 paragraph summary of his inaugural address and briefly explain why you think he was appealing to the public.