The first modern campaign : Kennedy, Nixon, and the election of 1960 / Gary A. Donaldson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Donaldson, Gary.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ).

Democratic Party (U.S.).

Presidents--United States--Election--1960.

Presidents.

History.

United States.

Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.

Kennedy, John F.

Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994.

Nixon, Richard M.

Presidential candidates--United States--Biography.

Presidential candidates.

Political campaigns--United States--History--20th century.

Political campaigns.

Democratic Party (U.S.)--History--20th century.

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )--History--20th century.

United States--Politics and government--1953-1961.

Politics and government.

United States--Politics and government--1961-1963.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

ix, 199 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, [2007]

Summary:

In this engaging book, Gary A. Donaldson tells the story of Kennedy versus Nixon with a sharp eye for the salient political developments and a keen sense of the drama of an election that was unlike any other the nation had experienced. The election of 1960 was an orchestrated political drama, organized as a sweeping campaign from coast to coast and staged for a national television audience. This made it the first modern campaign in which the television media changed the dynamics of presidential politics and in which photographs, charisma, and direct appeals to voters counted as they never had before.

Not since Theodore White's journalistic account, The Making of the President, has attention been paid to the full 1960 campaign as it played out in the early primaries and then culminated in the November election. Donaldson shows why the whole political season is critical to understanding American politics today. The First Modern Campaign is essential and engaging reading for anyone interested in contemporary politics in the United States.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The "Modern Republicanism" of Eisenhower and the GOP Split in the Fifties 1

Chapter 2 The Democrats Endure the Eisenhower Years 19

Chapter 3 Kennedy and the Liberals 37

Chapter 4 The Democrats Slug It Out in the Primary Season 45

Chapter 5 Waiting for Nixon 61

Chapter 6 The Conventions 71

Chapter 7 Campaign One 93

Chapter 8 The Great Debates 109

Chapter 9 Campaign Two 127

Chapter 10 Epilogue and Analysis 149.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-192) and index.

ISBN:

9780742547995

074254799X

9780742548008

0742548007

OCLC:

83608195