The Making of the President

The Making of the President. Published in 1961, this seminal work of political journalism chronicles the 1960 United States presidential election, which pitted Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy against Republican nominee Richard Nixon. Authored by journalist Theodore H. White, the book pioneered a new narrative style of election reporting, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the strategies, personalities, and pivotal moments of the campaign. It won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1962 and launched a highly influential series that would define political writing for a generation.

Historical context and background

The election occurred during the height of the Cold War, following major international crises like the Sputnik launch and the U-2 incident, which heightened anxieties about American technological and military parity with the Soviet Union. Domestically, the nation was emerging from the Eisenhower era, a period of general prosperity but also underlying social tensions. The Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum, highlighted by events like the Greensboro sit-ins, and the issue of Catholic religious affiliation became a significant factor due to Kennedy's faith. The political landscape was also shaped by the lingering effects of the McCarthy era and the economic concerns of a potential recession.

The nomination process

The journey to the nominations was fiercely contested within both major parties. For the Democrats, John F. Kennedy had to overcome skepticism about his youth, his religion, and rivals like Lyndon B. Johnson and Hubert Humphrey. His crucial victories in primaries such as West Virginia and Wisconsin demonstrated his electability. At the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, he secured the nomination and astutely selected Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate. On the Republican side, Richard Nixon, the sitting Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, faced a challenge from Nelson Rockefeller but ultimately secured his party's nomination at the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago, choosing Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. as his vice-presidential candidate.

The general election campaign

The general election campaign was historic, marked by the first nationally televised presidential debates, which proved decisive. Kennedy's poised and telegenic performance during the first Kennedy-Nixon debate contrasted sharply with Nixon's pallid appearance, swaying millions of viewers. The campaign featured extensive travel, with Kennedy emphasizing a "New Frontier" and a call to get the country "moving again," while Nixon touted his experience and the peace of the Eisenhower administration. Key campaign stops included critical addresses in states like Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Both candidates also made unprecedented efforts to court the African-American vote, with Kennedy's sympathetic call to Coretta Scott King after Martin Luther King Jr.'s arrest becoming a notable event.

Key issues and voter demographics

The central issues of the campaign were national security, the economy, and civil rights. Kennedy warned of a "missile gap" with the Soviet Union and criticized the Eisenhower-Nixon record on issues like the Cuban revolution. Nixon defended the administration's foreign policy and economic stewardship. The Catholic vote was heavily analyzed, with Kennedy needing to win a large majority of his co-religionists while limiting defections among Protestant voters. The election also highlighted growing urban-rural divides, the increasing political power of labor unions like the AFL–CIO, and the shifting allegiances of suburbian voters. The African-American vote, particularly in Northern cities, became a major battleground.

Election results and aftermath

The election on November 8 was one of the closest in American history. Kennedy narrowly won the Electoral College 303 to 219, though his popular vote margin was less than 120,000 votes nationwide. The outcome hinged on razor-thin victories in key states like Illinois and Texas, results that were contested by Republican officials. The transition to the Kennedy administration began, with Kennedy assembling a cabinet that included figures like Robert McNamara and Dean Rusk. The closeness of the result led to enduring debates about the influence of television, Chicago's Democratic machine politics, and the role of Lyndon B. Johnson in delivering the South.

Legacy and historical significance

The Making of the President fundamentally transformed political journalism by applying the techniques of narrative history and novelistic storytelling to contemporary politics, a style later emulated by authors like Timothy Crouse in The Boys on the Bus. The book established Theodore H. White as a premier political commentator and spawned sequels covering the 1964, 1968, and 1972 elections. Its detailed focus on campaign strategy, media, and personality set the template for decades of election coverage by networks like CBS News and publications like Time. As a primary source, it provides an invaluable contemporaneous account of the pivotal campaign that ushered in the New Frontier and the Camelot era of American politics. Category:1961 non-fiction books Category:Books about American politics Category:Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction-winning works