Past U.S. Presidential Campaigns

The analysis of the debate this week between Joe Biden and Donald Trump brings to mind two U.S. presidential campaigns from the 1960s. Many observers of this week's debate thought that Biden is too old to run for another term but replacing an incumbent president that is eligible to run for another term is an unfamiliar process.

THE 1960 KENNEDY-NIXON CAMPAIGN

John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Richard Nixon to win the presidency in 1960. Public perception became an issue during the campaign. Television was still relatively new. There was a debate between the two candidates that was broadcast both on radio and television. The majority of those listening on the radio thought that Nixon got the better of it. But Nixon had apparently neglected to shave and the majority of those watching on television thought that Kennedy got the better of the debate.

This difference was very much analyzed. It showed how television changed the dynamic. Now it was not just what the candidates said that counted but also their appearance. 

THE 1968 CAMPAIGN 

John F. Kennedy had been assassinated in 1963 and his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, had been sworn in. Johnson was reelected in 1964, defeating Barry Goldwater. For the 1968 campaign, Lyndon Johnson was eligible to run for another term since he had not served two full terms. When an incumbent president is eligible for another term he is almost always his party's choice as candidate. 

But Lyndon Johnson had become very unpopular over the Vietnam War. Anti-war protestors came up the cheerleader-like chant, "Hey Hey LBJ How Many Kids Did You Kill Today"? 

Johnson surprised the country with a televised announcement that he would not be running for president in the 1968 campaign. Instead the Democratic Party chose the popular Robert (Bobby) Kennedy, the younger brother of John F. Kennedy as it's candidate. But Bobby Kennedy was assassinated while campaigning, supposedly for his support of Israel. It was Hubert Humphrey, Johnson's vice president, who ended up standing for the Democrats in the election, but losing to Richard Nixon.