The 1960 presidential race between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy is considered by many political historians to be a landmark presidential contest. This race for the White House, exactly 60 years ago, marked a pivotal change in presidential election politics when the advent of television became the premier medium for political candidates.  

Kennedy was a 42-year-old, charismatic, Democratic senator from Massachusetts. Nixon was a veteran politico who was vice president under the popular war hero President Gen. Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower.