In the 1960 U.S. presidential election, John F. Kennedy ran as the Democratic candidate, with Lyndon B. Johnson as his vice-presidential running mate. Kennedy officially announced his candidacy on January 2, 1960, and was nominated at the Democratic National Convention on July 15, 1960. Johnson, who had also sought the nomination, was chosen as his running mate to balance the ticket geographically and politically.
Kennedy and Johnson faced Republican candidates Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in the general election on November 8, 1960. The campaign was notable for its televised debates, which played a crucial role in shaping public perception. Kennedy ultimately won the election and was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States on January 20, 1961.
