Winning Team

Black and white photographs of two men's heads on top of a red white and blue striped background with white text across the top and bottom of the button and a blue star on the right and left.

Richard Nixon (from CA) and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (from MA) ran as the Republican presidential ticket for the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. This was Nixon’s first attempt at the presidency after serving as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 22nd Amendment had been passed, making Eisenhower ineligible to run for a third term in office. Also, this election was the first time residents of Hawaii and Alaska were allowed to vote being both states became an official part of the United States in 1959.

The 1960 election was also televised for the first time and the American people could judge a candidate for not only what they had to say but also for how they appeared.  Nixon was said to have looked sickly compared to the youthful Kennedy, but those listening to the debate favored Nixon for his speaking abilities. Nixon and Lodge lost the election in a very close race. Kennedy won the Electoral College by a vote of 303-219 and won the popular vote by a slim 0.17% of (112,827 actual votes).