1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon

The 1960 presidential race brought together three titans of American politics: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Lyndon Johnson. This book chronicles their intersecting paths during that pivotal campaign year through behind-the-scenes events and public moments. The narrative follows each candidate's journey from the primaries through the general election, examining their strategies, personalities, and power networks. Through extensive research and primary sources, Pietrusza reconstructs the backroom deals, media manipulation, and personal conflicts that shaped the race. The book places the campaign within the broader context of American society at the dawn of the 1960s, including civil rights tensions, Cold War pressures, and changing demographics. Key supporting players like Eleanor Roosevelt, Joseph Kennedy Sr., and J. Edgar Hoover emerge as crucial influences on the outcome. This account of the 1960 election reveals enduring patterns in American democracy: the role of money and media, tensions between public image and private reality, and the complex interplay of personality and power in presidential politics.

Readers note that Pietrusza provides deep research and context for the 1960 presidential election, capturing the behind-the-scenes machinations between candidates. Readers appreciated: - The exploration of lesser-known campaign elements - Clear explanation of state-by-state electoral dynamics - Personal details about the candidates' backgrounds - Discussion of media's growing influence on campaigns Common criticisms: - Too much focus on background rather than the campaign itself - Uneven coverage favoring Nixon over Kennedy - Some digressions into tangential historical events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "Detailed without being dry" - Goodreads reviewer "Best book on the 1960 election I've read" - Amazon review "Gets bogged down in peripheral details" - Goodreads review "Could have used more on Kennedy's campaign strategy" - Amazon reviewer

The Making of the President 1960 by Theodore H. White A day-by-day account of the 1960 presidential campaign between Kennedy and Nixon, featuring behind-the-scenes strategies and personal interactions between the candidates.

Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, and the Feud that Defined a Decade by Jeff Shesol The chronicle of the bitter rivalry between LBJ and RFK traces their relationship from the 1960 election through the aftermath of JFK's assassination.

Master of the Senate by Robert Caro The examination of Lyndon Johnson's Senate years provides context for his evolution from legislative leader to vice-presidential candidate in 1960.

An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 by Robert Dallek The narrative follows Kennedy's path from his early political career through his Senate years and the 1960 presidential campaign.

Six Crises by Richard M. Nixon Nixon's first-person account includes his perspective on the 1960 presidential campaign and the debates that shaped the election's outcome.

🗳️ The book explores a particularly unique election cycle where all three main candidates (Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon) would eventually become U.S. Presidents. 📊 According to Pietrusza's research, the 1960 election had one of the closest popular vote margins in U.S. history, with Kennedy winning by just 0.17% of the vote. 📺 This election featured the first-ever televised presidential debates, which proved crucial as Kennedy's youth and charisma contrasted sharply with Nixon's tired, sickly appearance. 🏆 Author David Pietrusza has won multiple awards for his political histories, including the CASEY Award for baseball research and the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award. 🔍 The book reveals how Robert F. Kennedy, as his brother's campaign manager, had investigators looking into possible voter fraud in 11 states after the election, but JFK decided not to pursue any challenges to avoid a constitutional crisis.