I spent some time looking through old clippings I had saved and found and an interesting article from Campaign & Elections Magazine from 2010. The article was written by Ted Sorensen, shortly before his death. Sorensen, was a former Kennedy special counsel, adviser, speechwriter and author of the New York Times best-selling book, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History.
13 Lessons from the 1960 Presidential Campaign
The 1960 campaign for president transformed American elections.
The 1960 campaign for president transformed American elections. The race, which pitted the young and charismatic John F. Kennedy against Vice President Richard Nixon, a seasoned politician, was one of the most competitive in the nation’s history, but it is noteworthy for other reasons as well. It catapulted television, an emerging medium at the time, to the forefront of American campaigns—where it has remained since—and transformed the ways in which campaigns strategize and appeal to voters. It was, in many respects, the first modern campaign. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the contest, and as we prepare for the start of the 2012 campaign for president, Ted Sorensen, John F. Kennedy’s legendary adviser and one of the campaign’s masterminds, reflects on the 1960 election and the lessons for contemporary campaigns.
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Hard work can overcome other obstacles
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Presidential Nomination are won at the grassroots level
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Presidential Elections are won with electoral votes
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The best preparation for debate is rest and good health
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Welcome debates
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Do not waste time responding to the crazies
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Rely on the young and enthusiastic volunteers
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Utilize polling properly
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Make journalist your friends
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The General Election is a 24/7 marathon
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Establish a transition plan
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Ignore complaints from those not on the firing line with you
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Tell the truth about your life
