White's unprecedented examination of crucial campaign, in which the young and charismatic John F. Kennedy squared off against the seasoned vice president, Richard M. Nixon, is both a fascinating historical document and a compelling narrative of character and consequence. The distinguished reporter's detailed appreciation of the instinct & experience that shape the political process is a revelation in our current age of sound bites, relentlessly chattering punditry, and the all-consuming influence of TV, an influence first felt in the Kennedy-Nixon debates that proved to be a critical factor in the 1960 election. Following seven candidates from the earliest stirrings of aspiration thru the rigors of the primaries, the drama of the conventions and the grueling campaigning that culminated in one of the closest electoral contests in our nation's history, White provides a valuable education in the ways and means of our political life.
Background Information
John F. Kennedy was a hero in World War II, a Senator from Massachusetts, and became the first Catholic President in 1960. Richard Milhous Nixon was the first Californian elected to national office, serving as vice-president under Eisenhower and president from 1968 until his forced resignation in 1974. The election of 1960 matched two World War II veterans and resulted in Democrat John F. Kennedy defeating Republican Richard M. Nixon to become the first Catholic president.