Tag: 1960 Democratic presidential primary

June 20, 1963: JFK Speaks at WV Birthday Celebration

On June 20, 1963—the 100th birthday of West Virginia—John F. Kennedy made his last appearance in the Mountain State. 

Speaking on the state capitol steps in Charleston, he credited West Virginia with making him president—a reference to the state’s Democratic primary in 1960, when he beat Hubert Humphrey.

At the time, many political experts thought a Catholic couldn’t be elected president, but JFK’s win over Humphrey in an overwhelmingly Protestant state like West Virginia sent a major signal that he could win nationally. In November 1960, he defeated Republican Richard Nixon by a narrow margin to become the nation’s 35th president.

Many West Virginians felt a genuine sense of spirit and pride for their role in making JFK president. When he returned to the Mountain State for our Centennial, it was a dreary, rainy day in Charleston, but even in these moments, he found a way to uplift his supporters.

Three months later, John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Humphrey-Kennedy Debate Featured at W.Va. Wesleyan College

The West Virginia Humanities Council will host a special event at West Virginia Wesleyan tonight showcasing the 1960 West Virginia presidential primary between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey.  This was only the second time in American history that a debate involving presidential politics was televised.

The debate was part of a three-week campaign that Kennedy waged in West Virginia during the spring of 1960.  He acknowledged that the primary victory secured his presidential nomination, and many historians agree, citing this debate as one of the most important presidential primaries in history.

The debate tape was stored in Kennedy’s library, but it was not in good condition.  Dr. Robert Rupp, professor of history and political science, secured a grant from the West Virginia Humanities Council and additional funding to restore the historic tape.  Dr. Rupp will also give commentary on the importance of this debate and what viewers should look for in the presidential debates in race for the 2016 nominations.

The Kennedy-Humphries debate program begins at 7:00 on West Virginia Wesleyan’s campus.

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