7 Facts about the 1960 Presidential Election

7. Electoral College Victory: Kennedy won the Electoral College with 303 votes, while Nixon secured 219. 

6.  Voter Turnout: The 1960 election had a high voter turnout, with around 63% of eligible voters casting their ballots.

5.  Southern Strategy: Nixon’s campaign employed a “Southern Strategy” to appeal to conservative voters in the South.

4. Religious Influence: Kennedy was the first Catholic to be elected president, which was a major issue during the campaign.

3. Kennedy's Youth: John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected U.S. president at age 43.

2. First Televised Debates: This election featured the first-ever televised presidential debates, which had a significant impact on public opinion.

1. Close Contest: The 1960 election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was one of the closest in American history.