1960 United States presidential election

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/1960-united-states-presidential-election

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the election date?November 8, 1960
2. What is the republican nominees?Richard Nixon (President), Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (Vice President)
3. Who won the 1960 United States presidential election?John F. Kennedy won the 1960 election, becoming the youngest president ever elected.
4. Why was the 1960 election so close?The election was close because the economy had slowed, many voters were registered Democrats, and Kennedy’s Catholic supporters helped balance Nixon’s Protestant voters.

Incumbent: A person who is currently holding a political office.
Running Mate: A candidate who runs for Vice President alongside a presidential candidate.
Televised Debates: Public discussions between political candidates broadcast on television, influencing voter perception.
Swing States: States where the outcome of an election is uncertain and can change from one party to another.