Campaign of the Century

Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960

By: Irwin F. Gellman

Narrated by: Christopher Douyard

Based on massive new research, a compelling and surprising account of the 20th century's closest election.

The 1960 presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon is one of the most frequently described political events of the 20th century, yet the accounts to date have been remarkably unbalanced. Far more attention is given to Kennedy's side than to Nixon's. The imbalance began with the first book on that election, Theodore White's The Making of the President 1960 - in which (as he later admitted) White deliberately cast Kennedy as the hero and Nixon as the villain - and it has been perpetuated in almost every book since then.

Few historians have attempted an unbiased account of the election, and none have done the archival research that Irwin F. Gellman has done. Based on previously unused sources such as the FBI's surveillance of JFK and the papers of Leon Jaworski, vice-presidential candidate Henry Cabot Lodge, and many others, this book presents the first even-handed history of both the primary campaigns and the general election. The result is a fresh, engaging chronicle that shatters long-held myths and reveals the strengths and weaknesses of both candidates.

©2021 Irwin F. Gellman (P)2022 Tantor

Excellent read.

I loved the even handed review of the
Campaign. Put the election in better context for me.

Too focused on hating Kennedy to have much educational value.

This book gets way too wrapped up in exposing all of JFK’s misdeeds. Granted, the author appears to be trying to point out the things the press didn’t report during the presidential campaign, but the continuous stream of anti-Kennedy stuff gets old.

I’m no great fan of Kennedy (in fact, I’m a Republican), but I don’t enjoy listening to laundry lists of negativity about anyone. I was reading this to learn about history and not to hear about every time Kennedy watched an adult film or lied about his medical issues.

Unless you really hate Kennedy and want to hear someone pile on, I would not recommend this book