Joshua Bennett
The 1960 United States presidential election was a close contest between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Kennedy's Catholicism was a significant factor in the election, with some speculating that it cost him votes in heavily Protestant states. Nixon, meanwhile, sought to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment with the help of Billy Graham and the National Association of Evangelicals. Despite this, Nixon did receive some support from Catholic voters, winning 22% of the Catholic vote in 1960 and 33% in 1968. Nixon's success with Catholic voters has been attributed to his centrist policies and his stance on issues such as the Vietnam War and law and order. The shift in Catholic voting patterns is also believed to be due to the Democratic Party's increasing liberalism and anti-war stance, which alienated socially conservative Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the election | 1960 |
| Nixon's opponent | John F. Kennedy |
| Kennedy's religion | Roman Catholic |
| Percentage of the Catholic vote Nixon won in 1960 | 22% |
| Percentage of the Catholic vote Nixon won in 1968 | 33% |
| Percentage of the Catholic vote Nixon won in 1972 | 52% |
| Nixon's religion | Quaker |
| Nixon's strategy | Campaigning in Protestant regions and choosing an evangelical running mate |
| Catholic vote in 2008 | 54% for Obama, 45% for McCain |
| Catholic vote in 2012 | 50% for Obama, 48% for Romney |
| Catholic vote in 2016 | 52% for Trump, 45% for Clinton |
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What You'll Learn
Nixon's campaign efforts to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment
In the 1960 United States presidential election, Nixon's campaign advisor, Rev. Billy Graham, encouraged Nixon to aggressively court Protestant votes, arguing that Kennedy would capture almost 100% of the Catholic vote. Graham believed that Catholic block voting was dangerous and morally abhorrent, but that Protestant block voting was acceptable. Nixon's campaign efforts to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment included working with Billy Graham and the National Association of Evangelicals.
Nixon focused his campaigning efforts in predominantly Protestant regions and chose an evangelical running mate, appealing to anti-Catholic sentiment among Protestants. Nixon's campaign also emphasised his experience, in contrast to Kennedy's emphasis on his youth. Nixon recognised the opportunity to attract Catholic voters who were moving away from the Democratic Party and towards the Republican Party. He appointed an Italian-American and a southerner to the U.S. Supreme Court, signalling inclusion for these groups.
Nixon's campaign tactics in the 1960 election were influenced by the belief that Kennedy's Catholicism would be a liability for him, and that tapping into anti-Catholic sentiment among Protestants could help Nixon win the election. Nixon's campaign advisor, Rev. Billy Graham, shared this belief and encouraged Nixon to pursue Protestant votes aggressively. Graham's influence on Nixon's campaign strategy demonstrates the importance placed on exploiting anti-Catholic sentiment to gain political advantage.
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Nixon's centrist presidency
In the 1960 US presidential election, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in one of the closest elections in American history. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, became the first Catholic president. Nixon, a Quaker, lost the popular vote by a margin of just 0.1%.
Nixon's campaign advisor, Rev. Billy Graham, believed that Nixon should aggressively court Protestant votes, arguing that Kennedy would "capture the Catholic vote — almost 100% of it". Nixon's campaign sought to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment, but this ultimately backfired as Catholics rallied to Kennedy in response to attacks on his religion.
Nixon did, however, win 22% of the Catholic vote in 1960, and this increased to 33% in 1968. This shift was part of a broader movement of Catholics away from the Democratic Party, which was increasingly seen as anti-war and anti-patriotic. Nixon's centrist presidency is credited as a factor in attracting Catholic voters. He did not tear apart the social programs and safety nets favoured by Catholics, and he stood for "peace with honour" in Vietnam, positioning himself against both the demonstrators and rioters, and the liberal media.
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Nixon's focus on the Italian-American vote
Nixon's campaign targeted various groups, including Italian-Americans, who were seen as an important voting bloc. Nixon's team, including Billy Graham and the National Association of Evangelicals, sought to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment and court Protestant votes. They believed that Nixon's opponent, John F. Kennedy, would capture the Catholic vote, and so they focused on campaigning in predominantly Protestant regions and choosing an evangelical running mate.
In his 1972 re-election campaign, Nixon downplayed partisanship and focused primarily on foreign affairs, including the prospect of peace in Vietnam and an upsurge in the economy. He was elected to a second term in one of the largest landslide victories in American history, winning 61% of the popular vote and 520 electoral votes.
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Catholic voters' concerns about crime rates
In the 1960 US presidential election, the Catholic vote was a significant factor. Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate, sought to win the support of Catholic voters, who were believed to be a crucial voting bloc. However, Nixon also attempted to tap into anti-Catholic sentiment prevalent at the time, particularly by courting Protestant voters.
While it is not possible to know the exact concerns that influenced Catholic voters' choices in the 1960 election, crime rates may have been a factor. The election took place against a backdrop of organised crime and violence involving Italian-American mafia groups, voter fraud, and labour union disputes.
In addition, the issue of religious conviction and its role in politics was a significant concern for many voters. Nixon's opponent, John F. Kennedy, was a Catholic, and he had to navigate anti-Catholic sentiment and assure voters that his personal religious beliefs would not influence his decision-making as president. Kennedy's victory made him the first and, to date, only Catholic president of the United States.
In more recent elections, such as those in Mexico in 2024, the Catholic Church has expressed concerns about the potential influence of organised crime and criminal groups on the electoral process. Mexican bishops warned about the risks to democratic stability posed by criminal violence, noting that Mexico had become one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with frequent murders and threats against them.
The intersection of crime and elections is considered a sign of corruption that should be avoided, and the Catholic Church has urged its faithful to pray for wisdom in guiding the country's decisions.
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Nixon's courting of the Protestant vote
In the 1960 election, Nixon's opponent, Kennedy, was Catholic. Kennedy saw the religion issue as the single most important obstacle on his road to the White House. Kennedy's campaign transformed the "religion question" from a liability into an asset, making him the first (and still only) Catholic president.
Nixon, on the other hand, tapped into anti-Catholic sentiment with the aid of Billy Graham and the National Association of Evangelicals, among others. In a private letter to Nixon, Graham argued that Nixon should aggressively court Protestant votes, noting that Kennedy would "capture the Catholic vote — almost 100% of it — no matter the concessions you make to the Catholic church or how you play them up". Graham believed that Catholic block voting was dangerous and morally abhorrent, but that Protestant block voting was acceptable. He advised Nixon to campaign only in predominantly Protestant regions and to choose an evangelical running mate.
Nixon also courted evangelicals during his presidency, inviting the head of the Southern Baptist Convention to preach in the White House and convincing the Convention to pass a resolution in 1970 endorsing his policy in Vietnam. Nixon was publicly known to be friends with evangelical minister Billy Graham, who campaigned for him. In the 1972 election, 82% of evangelicals voted for Nixon.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Nixon wanted the Catholic vote. In the 1960 election, Nixon lost the Catholic vote to Kennedy, but in 1968, Nixon received 33% of the Catholic vote, and in 1972, he received 52%.
Nixon wanted the Catholic vote because he recognized that Catholics were moving away from the Democratic Party and wanted to bring them into the GOP coalition.
Nixon tried to get the Catholic vote by appointing an Italian-American and a Southerner to the U.S. Supreme Court and by running a centrist presidency that stood for peace in Vietnam.
Nixon's efforts to get the Catholic vote did work to some extent. While he only received 22% of the Catholic vote in 1960, he received 33% in 1968 and 52% in 1972.
