Introduction Index Resources Credits

Mississippi & Presidential Elections

Washington & Lincoln

Taft's Trip to Mississippi

Woodrow Wilson

FDR & Senator Pat Harrison

W.T. Marshall Collection

JFK & The University of Mississippi

LBJ

Nixon & Ford

Willie Morris Collection

Inaugurations

Presidential Signed Documents

Presidents and the Blues

Presidential Deaths

1960

Kennedy Letter Front

Following the 1960 Democratic National Convention, nominee John F. Kennedy wrote U.S. Senator James O. Eastland, “I want to express my appreciation for your help in Chicago. Mississippi was of the greatest possible assistance, and Frank Smith and others have told me how helpful you were. I am most appreciative. We almost made it! I shall look forward to seeing you back in Washington.”

However, the majority of Mississippi voters opted neither for Kennedy nor for the Republican nominee Richard Nixon, but instead for eight unpledged Democratic electors who cast their ballots for Harry Byrd of Virginia, an unannounced, pro-segregationist candidate. Despite this schism, Kennedy received a clear majority in the Electoral College.




Handwritten letter from U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy to U.S. Senator James O. Eastland

Kennedy Letter Front Kennedy Letter Back

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Introduction Index Resources Credits