Like the 1950s, the decade of the 1960s is perceived very differently by historians and social critics. Some perceive the changes of the 1960s as a very refreshing antidote to the suffocating conformity of the 1950s. Other observers see the revolts of the 1960s as self-indulgent, harmful to America, and the seed of much that is wrong with the United States today. All would agree that conflicts over civil rights and the Vietnam War greatly influenced virtually every major political figure and many ordinary citizens of the 1960s.
THE 1960 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Many Americans perceived the election of John Kennedy over Richard Nixon in 1960 as the beginning of a new age for America. His statement during his inauguration speech “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” is remembered by millions today. At age 43, Kennedy appeared young and vigorous (especially when flanked by his wife, Jacqueline). Kennedy was the son of a former ambassador to Britain and had served as a congressman and senator from Massachusetts. He was also a Roman Catholic.
Some voters considered Richard Nixon to be “too tied to the past”; as previously mentioned, he was the vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Historians note that this was the first election greatly affected by television; in four presidential debates Nixon appeared nervous and tired. Ironically, those who heard the debates on the radio didn't feel that Nixon lost them. Some historians argue that the television image projected by Nixon actually cost him the election. The 1960 popular vote was one of the closest in history; Nixon lost by only 120,000 votes (out of nearly 34 million votes cast).