The Making of the President, 1960

The Making of the President, 1960
Name	The Making of the President, 1960
Author	Theodore H. White
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Political journalism, Non-fiction
Publisher	Atheneum Publishers
Pub date	1961
Media type	Print
Pages	400
Isbn	978-0-06-190060-0
Preceded by	The View from the Fortieth Floor
Followed by	The Making of the President, 1964

The Making of the President, 1960 is a landmark work of political journalism written by Theodore H. White and published in 1961. The book provides a detailed, behind-the-scenes narrative of the 1960 United States presidential election, which pitted Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy against Republican nominee Richard Nixon. It pioneered a new genre of election reporting, blending campaign strategy analysis with vivid character portraits of the candidates and their teams, and won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1962. White’s immersive, novelistic approach transformed public understanding of American politics and set the standard for subsequent campaign chronicles.

Background and context

The book was conceived against the backdrop of a rapidly changing United States and a new era of mass media. The Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union, the nascent Civil Rights Movement, and the economic anxieties of the time formed the critical national context. Theodore H. White, a seasoned journalist with experience at *Time* magazine and reporting on China and Europe, secured unprecedented access to the campaigns. His methodology was innovative, involving extensive travel with the candidates and confidential interviews with key figures like Robert F. Kennedy and Kennedy’s pollster Louis Harris, aiming to document the election as a cohesive human drama rather than a series of disconnected events.

The primary campaigns

White meticulously details the grueling primary battles that shaped the eventual nominees. For the Democrats, he chronicles Senator Kennedy’s strategic challenges in proving his Catholic faith was not a barrier, focusing on critical victories in primaries like Wisconsin and West Virginia against rivals such as Hubert Humphrey and Lyndon B. Johnson. On the Republican side, the narrative covers Vice President Nixon’s relatively uncontested path to the nomination, though it notes his delicate navigation of factions within the GOP and a brief challenge from Nelson Rockefeller, the governor of New York.

The general election campaign

This section forms the core of White’s narrative, capturing the historic and intensely close contest. He provides an iconic account of the first televised presidential debates, arguing that Kennedy’s poised performance on CBS contrasted sharply with Nixon’s haggard appearance, swaying millions of viewers. The book follows the breakneck campaign travel, from New York City to California, and highlights pivotal moments like Kennedy’s speech to the Houston Ministerial Association and the controversial involvement of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley. White emphasizes the sophisticated use of polling and television advertising by both camps.

Key issues and debates

White analyzes the major policy themes that dominated the national conversation. The central issue was leadership during the Cold War, including debates over a perceived missile gap with the Soviet Union and the status of offshore islands near China. Domestic concerns, particularly the sluggish economy and the growing momentum of the Civil Rights Movement, were also critical. The book examines how Kennedy’s call for a “New Frontier” and Nixon’s emphasis on experience played out against these substantive backdrops, without neglecting the persistent undercurrent of religious prejudice.

Election results and analysis

The book dissects the extraordinarily narrow outcome, where Kennedy secured 303 electoral votes to Nixon’s 219, with a popular vote margin of just 0.17%. White delves into the decisive role of key states like Illinois and Texas, exploring allegations of voting irregularities. He analyzes the coalition that elected Kennedy, noting the importance of Catholic voters, African Americans, and strong support in the urban Northeast, while Nixon performed better in the Midwest and West.

Legacy and impact

The Making of the President, 1960 had a profound and lasting impact on American political journalism and historiography. It established Theodore H. White as a premier political writer and launched a successful series that continued through the 1968 election. The book’s immersive, insider perspective influenced countless journalists and authors, including Timothy Crouse (The Boys on the Bus) and Hunter S. Thompson. It shaped the public’s expectation for behind-the-scenes campaign narratives and remains an essential primary source for understanding the pivotal 1960 United States presidential election and the dawn of the Kennedy administration.

Category:1961 non-fiction books Category:Books about American politics Category:Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction-winning works