Senator John F. Kennedy Announces His Candidacy for the 1960 Democratic Presidential Nomination
Senator John F. Kennedy's announcement of his candidacy for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination marked a significant moment in American political history. Initially recognized for his potential during the 1956 election, where he was considered for the vice-presidential nomination, Kennedy had garnered substantial popularity that led his father, Joseph Kennedy, to support his presidential ambitions. Despite facing several challenges, including his status as a Roman Catholic in a predominantly Protestant nation, his relative youth, and concerns about his health due to a World War II injury, Kennedy was determined to pursue the presidency. His father’s wealth and political aspirations further fueled his campaign efforts. On January 2, 1960, Kennedy officially declared his candidacy, setting the stage for a competitive primary race in the Democratic Party leading up to the November elections. This announcement not only highlighted Kennedy's ambitions but also reflected the changing dynamics and challenges in American politics during that era.
Senator John F. Kennedy Announces His Candidacy for the 1960 Democratic Presidential Nomination
Senator John F. Kennedy Announces His Candidacy for the 1960 Democratic Presidential Nomination
John F. Kennedy's presidential ambitions first surfaced during the 1956 election, in which the young and promising senator from Massachusetts he was considered for the vice-presidential slot in the presidential campaign of Adlai Stevenson, but lost to Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. However, Kennedy's popularity convinced his father, the wealthy and powerful Joseph Kennedy, that JFK could make a serious bid for the presidency. With a personal fortune estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, derived from bootlegging, movie-making, and stock market speculations, “Joe” Kennedy was certainly in a position to bankroll his son.
In 1958, JFK was reelected as senator, but almost immediately began to maneuver for the 1960 Democratic presidential primaries. Like most politicians throughout American history, Kennedy declined to publicly acknowledge his interest in the presidency until his campaign was organized. In fact, the Kennedy campaign faced several formidable obstacles. First, he was a Roman Catholic, and this religious difference was still important in a country that had a Protestant majority and had never elected a Catholic president. Second, he was young and inexperienced. Third, he had sustained a serious back injury during World War II, requiring the frequent use of a back brace and medication, which cast doubt on his ability to take on the rigors of a national campaign.
Kennedy was ambitious, however. Joe Kennedy, who had once served as ambassador to Great Britain, had also once held political ambitions for himself but had never been able to capitalize on them. Now he could realize these ambitions through his son, and so he encouraged JFK to enter the race. On January 2, 1960, JFK formally announced his intention to seek the Democratic Party's presidential nomination for the upcoming November 1960 presidential elections.