Original version

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Witness History: Kennedy’s nail-biter election victory

Documentaries

Kennedy’s nail-biter election victory

22/11/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Kennedy’s nail-biter election victory

In 1960, John F Kennedy became the youngest person to be elected United States president.

In 1960, John F Kennedy pulled off a narrow victory over Richard Nixon in the race for the United States presidency.

On 22 November 1963, United States President John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

Lucy Williamson looks back to 8 November 1960, when Richard Nixon and JFK went toe to toe at the polls in a battle to become the next president. The narrow success made Kennedy the youngest man ever elected to the role.

Close aide and speechwriter Ted Sorensen was with the politician on the night of the election. This programme was first broadcast in 2010.

(Photo: US President-elect John F Kennedy shortly after his election in 1960. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Kennedy’s nail-biter election victory

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service East Asia

About BBC World Service