Editor’s note: This story was originally published on July 13, 2024.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
As the nation prepared for a couple of potentially wild political party conventions in 2024, it was interesting to look back at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.
On July 13, 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party’s convention.
Kennedy had been in the mix in 1956, but spent four years preparing for this moment. He arrived at the convention with 600 of the 761 delegates needed. According to historical reports, JFK faced some opposition from former President Harry Truman, who thought he was too young, while Texas Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson was angling to grab the nomination at the convention, with Adlai Stevenson also in the mix.
But on the first ballot, Kennedy won just enough delegates when in the final roll call, Wyoming put its support behind the senator from Massachusetts.
Two days later, Kennedy surprised most Democrats when he named Johnson as his running mate.
According to coverage of the day, Utah Democrats were pleased with the ticket.
Kennedy would go on to win the presidency following a tough battle with Republican Vice President Richard M. Nixon, but served in the Oval Office for just three years before he was assassinated in 1963.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives from that era, including stories about Kennedy’s visits to Utah, his relationship with Johnson, and others who knew him well:
“JFK’s Utah visits chronicled on Web”
“Book: Kennedy scorned idea of Johnson as president”
“Kennedy-Nixon debates inform today’s presidential politics”
“True in theory: 60 years later, JFK’s death still fuels a culture of doubt”
“John F. Kennedy — remembering a friend”
“McConkie recalls working with John F. Kennedy”
“50 years later does JFK’s Tabernacle speech still resonate? (+photos)”
“Thousands of Utahns turned out to see President Kennedy in 1963″