Primary Importance

Prior to 1960, presidential nominees were largely selected in the infamous “smoke filled rooms” of state party conventions. In 1960 two serious contenders for the Democratic nomination, Hubert Humphrey and John F. Kennedy, realized their weaknesses with party bosses would make this path nearly impossible. For Kennedy his youth, his Catholic faith, and his aloofness toward party leaders would undermine his campaign. For Humphrey his strong positions on civil rights would cost him support in the vital South
This work focuses on the Wisconsin and West Virginia primaries, the only two in which both candidates competed. Original manuscript sources illuminate the differences between Kennedy’s well financed, well organized campaign and Humphrey’s more amateurish effort. These sources, along with a wealth of newspaper sources, also offer fascinating anecdotes of life on the campaign trail.

Roger Pickenpaugh, a retired history teacher, has written four books on Civil War prisons. He lives in Caldwell, Ohio.

Roger Pickenpaugh
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 246
Bibliographic Info: 10 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9404-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5196-5
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
Introduction 5
Chapter  1. Kennedy 11
Chapter  2. Humphrey 29
Chapter  3. Early Maneuverings 45
Chapter  4. Considering Wisconsin and West Virginia 63
Chapter  5. On (to) Wisconsin 83
Chapter  6. The Wisconsin Campaign Trail 101
Chapter  7. Issues and Religion Intrude 113
Chapter  8. “­West-By-God-Virginia” 133
Chapter  9. A Question of Faith 148
Chapter 10. The West Virginia Campaign Trail 158
Chapter 11. Roosevelt, Ramps, and Returns 175
Afterword 194
Chapter Notes 203
Bibliography 223
Index 231