The Presidential Election

of 1948

The Buck Stops Here!

• Harry S. Truman had big shoes to fill after the death of FDR.

• Biggest domestic issue would be dealing with post WW II America.

Presidential Election 1948(4 candidates)

The major party candidates:

Truman (D) and Thomas Dewey (R)

Minor Party Candidates

Strom Thurmond (Dixiecrat) main issue was

blocking Civil Rights

Henry Wallace (Progressive) main issue was foreign policy stand

against Communism

The Presidential Election

of 1952

Adlai Stevenson• Democrat Governor from

Illinois.• Stevenson's distinctive

speaking style quickly earned him the reputation of an intellectual and endeared him to many Americans.

• Lost bid for presidency in 1952 and 1956

Dwight Eisenhower• Popular World War II

hero; never held public office.

• Gave Republicans easy victory in 1952 and 1956.

• 1st Republican in White House since 1932.

The Presidential Election

of 1960

The Candidates….

Background……

• Richard Nixon– Born 1913 in Yorba

Linda, California– Whittier College and

Duke Law School– Lt. Commander in US

Navy during WW II.– Elected to House in 1946,

Senate 1950.– Vice-President under Ike

for 8 years

• John Kennedy– Born in Brookline,

Massachusetts in 1917– Harvard – Lt. in US Navy; Pt109

Commander– Elected to House in

1946, Senate 1952– Published Profiles in

Courage 1957 – wins Pulitzer Prize

The race for the office…

• Both men were young, military veterans, lawyers, had political experience and similar views.

• However, many historians believe there were (2) important factors that decided the race…..

Televised Debates

• First televised debates in history.

• 70 million viewers tuned in, more on radio.

• The first debate, the telegenic Kennedy won the image battle over Nixon who, recovering from the flu, appeared pale and refused make-up.

JFK and MLK…

• When Reverend Martin Luther King was arrested in Atlanta, Kennedy called to offer his sympathy.

• This garnered Kennedy substantial African-American support in the 1960 election.

Election results….

Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

• President John F. Kennedy delivers his inaugural address at Capitol Hill in Jan. 20, 1961.

• Kennedy said, "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."

The End