1960 Democratic Primary

[Dr. Cynic]

The Scenario:

Adlai Stevenson is no longer a candidate. The Democratic Party is now leaderless against VP Nixon. They are down to four men to lead the party:


JOHN KENNEDY - Charismatic Senator from Massachusetts, whose assests include a great campaigning style, and a popular message. Liabilities include his inexpirence and Catholiscisim.

HUBERT HUMPHREY - Eubillient and friendly, the MN Senator with the rather high pitched voice can overtalk, and tend to be very bombastic, but is considered Stevenson's heir and is a popular man.

LYNDON JOHNSON - Has solid control of the more conservative element. His command of facts and blunt speaking style could endear him to someone more than the shifty, calculating Nixon. Though a liability is almost no Northern organization.

STUART SYMINGTON - This Missourian is one of the steadiest voices in the Senate. Though his introvertedness and lack of color is a disadvantage that none of the other candidates suffer from, he has the support of former President Harry Truman, which is a definate bonus.

[PBrunsel]

Had I been a Democrat in 1960 I would have supported the powerful Senate Majority leader Lyndon B. Johnson. Frankly he ran as a Conservative in 1960, although he was not one as President as you well know.

[qwerty]

Humphrey, then Johnson.

[minionofmidas]

Note that there was no primary with exactly that field.
Kennedy and Humphrey really battled it out in just two primaries, in Wisconsin and West Virginia. In New Hampshire, Kennedy ran against some local lumber magnate. In the South, there was no serious competition to LBJ. Most states didn't hold primaries at all. Symington didn't run in any primaries, and was actually suspected of being more interested in the VP slot.
Also, LBJ had the support of the Southern Conservatives, but he wasn't one of them. They supported him because they hoped that he, unlike them, might actually win the nomination for the South.

[Dr. Cynic]

Please note that Johnson was running on a more conservative platform in 1960. Humphrey and Kennedy were the liberals. I'm stating more or less if your state had all four on the ballot. I'd have taken my old idol HHH.

[minionofmidas]

Please note that Johnson was running on a more conservative platform in 1960.

Yeah, I know. More Conservative than his presidency was going to be. After all, he was the candidate the Southern Conservatives supported...but he wasn't exactly one of them, anyhow. HHH for me, btw.

[JohnFKennedy]

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

[Dr. Cynic]

HHH is beating out JFK. That kind of surprises me.

[Ronald Reagan]

Symington, easiest dem 2 beat.

[Dr. Cynic]

Symington probably would have been easiest to beat, but not easy.

[Ats]

Humphrey

[Dr. Cynic]

Kennedy takes the lead.....

[Dr. Cynic]

HHH thought very highly of Nixon, though they didn't become friendly until after 68. When HHH was dying of cancer, Nixon made every effort to be gracious to him, and for that I will always hold Nixon in high regard, no matter what he did at Watergate.

HHH's story is sad and happy at the same time. He is my political hero, and a personal hero. His life proved that one could go into national politics and serve with honesty, decency, and friendliness. Long live his good legacy!

Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. (1911-1978)