1. The Kennedy Years…
In September of 1960, Americans watched the first ever televised debate between presidential candidates
Kennedy vs. Nixon
Not only change the debates forever, but would affect/show the role TV played in American politics

2. John F. Kennedy would ultimately win the presidential election in 1960
Though by a close margin
Electoral vote was
Popular votes (of 34 million…he only won by 120,000)

3. He was the youngest person ever elected president and the first Roman Catholic to ever hold office
He was 43 when elected
Teddy Roosevelt was 42 when McKinley was assassinated

4. As he prepared to usher in a new era of energy and optimism, he also realized he did not have a strong mandate
A mandate is a set of wishes expressed to a candidate by his or her voters
Without such a mandate, Kennedy would have difficulty pushing his more controversial measures through Congress
They seemed carefree, his wife Jacqueline charmed the country with her grace
They family and friends played touch football on the white house lawn
Camelot (wants to transfer the land from “might makes right” to one where power achieves right)

5. But he and his family would be hard not to love…