The 1960 U.S. presidential election was significant as a turning point in the modern era of American campaigns, media, and party politics.

The main candidates were John F. Kennedy (Democrat) and Richard Nixon (Republican), with Kennedy’s eventual victory marking the first for a Catholic president and the youngest person ever elected to the office.[1][2][3]

Candidates and Outcome

Changes in Campaigns and Primaries

Election Process and Future Impact

Causes of These Changes

Long-Term Meaning for Candidates