The 1960 Presidential Election Flashcards

Vocabulary terms based on the video transcript regarding the 1960 Presidential Election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

Checkers Speech

A 1952 address by Richard Nixon responding to allegations of an illegal slush fund where he famously declared he would keep a gift dog named Checkers.

Slush fund

The illegal collection of money Richard Nixon was accused of operating during his 1952 run for Vice President.

Eisenhower Mythology

The claim that Richard Nixon lost the 1960 election because Dwight D. Eisenhower did not support him or aid his campaign.

Pat Nixon

The wife of Richard Nixon, described as ambitious, smart, and a strong defender of her husband whose help is documented in letters between Nixon and Eisenhower.

Lyndon B. Johnson

John F. Kennedy’s running mate who helped win the election by bringing southern support and appearing to more conservative Democrats.

Henry Cabot Lodge

The Republican Vice Presidential candidate in 1960 who was respected but viewed by some historians as less politically strategic than his opponent.

October Surprise

The arrest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. late in the 1960 campaign, which forced both candidates to address the issue of race.

Kennedy's Civil Rights Action

The decision to call Coretta Scott King to offer sympathy after her husband's arrest, which helped Kennedy win approximately $68\%$ of the Black vote.

Nixon's Civil Rights Strategy

The decision to remain silent regarding the arrest of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in an effort to appeal to white southern voters.

Electoral Vote Requirement

The minimum number of electoral votes needed to win the 1960 Presidential Election was $269$.

Key States in 1960

The states identified as the most critical for winning the election: California, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.

1960 Voter Turnout

A total of $67$ million Americans went to the polls on election day.

First Debate Appearance

The notable contrast between television viewers, who felt Kennedy one, and radio listeners, who often felt Nixon won or that it was a tie.