Kennedy Close Winner
By Bill Blundell
John F. Kennedy
Big states made the difference...
Sen. John F. Kennedy, riding on huge pluralities given him in key cities and industrial areas, swept to victory over Vice President Richard Nixon last night to become the youngest president of the United States and the first Roman Catholic ever to hold that office.
Nixon took an early lead as fragmentary returns from rural and suburban districts, particularly in Kansas, trickled in. But Kennedy erased the vice president's early advantage as record-breaking numbers of votes streamed in from the cities.
The race tightened later when, at 6 a.m., Nixon had 24,827,860 votes for 49.33 per cent of the total to Kennedy's 29,199,864. 50.67 per cent of the total. At this time, California and Illinois were seen leaning to Kennedy but still in doubt.
Kennedy took Connecticut, Massachusetts and South Carolina, each of these states falling to him between 7.50 and 8.50 p.m. Nixon struck back, capturing Oklahoma, Vermont, Indiana and Kentucky.
Kennedy Swing Starts
Then the march to Kennedy began in earnest as the Democratic nominee took Maryland, West Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, Rhode Island and North Carolina in that order.
Pennsylvania with its 32 electoral votes fell to Kennedy at 10:57. New York followed the Keystone State into the Kennedy column at 11:52, giving him 45 more electoral votes.
No Doubt Left
From that time, there remained little doubt in the minds of veteran political observers that Kennedy would win.
Leading newspapers throughout the country and several Republican lawmakers conceded the election to Kennedy after the New York vote came in.
The Kennedy victory was paralleled by Democratic congressional candidates vying for house and senate seats. It was certain at 2 a.m. today that the Democrats had nailed down control of the 87th Congress, although it appeared that the party's majority in both houses would be reduced.
In the Senate, which the Democrats now control 66-44, the GOP appears to have gained at least one seat.
Republicans Gain Seats
The House, which is weighted 283-154, will seat at least 15 additional Republicans. There is, however, no real threat to Democratic majorities in either house.
Kennedy's victory was a comparatively narrow one, as far as the popular vote was concerned. At 3 a.m., Kennedy held a relatively slim lead over his opponent. With more than two-thirds of the vote counted, he led Nixon by less than one million. In the landslide of 1956, Eisenhower bested Stevenson by more than nine million votes.
Gets Electoral Votes
But the electoral vote was decisively in Kennedy's favor. At 3 am, he had clinched or was leading in states with 332 electoral votes-63 more than are needed to elect. Nixon counted 191 electoral votes in his column.
The remaining 14 votes were in doubt. Under Alabama law, the state's six electoral votes could be withheld from Kennedy, although he won the popular vote. The remaining 8 electoral votes belong to a unpledged slate of Mississippi electors.
Kennedy apparently did not suffer from the religious issue as much as had been predicted. He lost the border states of Tennessee and Kentucky, but kept the core of the Solid South Democrate.
He ran poorly in rural areas, but this was more than offset by his large pluralities in urban areas, where the Catholic population is high and labor is strong.
Daily hansan
58th Year, No. 39
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1960
Anderson Scuttles Docking 3rd Term Bid
By Susanne Shaw
John Andersen Jr., halted Democratic Gov. George Docking's bid for an unprecedented third term
Anderson's early morning lead continued to mount throughout the evening. Republican victory was claimed at 11:07 p.m.
Twenty minutes after the Daily Kansas call was made to Democratic State Headquarters, United
The Kansan called Democratic State Headquarters in Topeka at 1:05 a.m. and was told that Docking would not concede. Democrats reported that Anderson had received 238,319 votes and Gov. Docking 150,092. They said only partial and incomplete returns from Sedgwick and Wyandotte Counties had been received and Gov. Docking would not concede defeat until votes from these counties were more complete.
Press International moved the following;
Governor: Anderson (R) 248,255;
Docking (D) 203,278. (Anderson
Elected)
At 2:15 a.m. United Press International reported that Gov. Docking had gone to bed without making a statement. His press secretary, Gene Sullivan will release a statement from the Capital Building in Topeka at 9 a.m.
Theis Concedes
Senator Andrew F. Schoeppeel's victory was claimed early in the evening as his margin over Democrat Frank Theis mounted steadily. Theis conceded defeat to Sen. Schoeppeel at 12:25 a.m. The senior senator was leading Theis 211,976 to 176,355 when the Democratic challenger conceded.
In a telegram to Schoeppel at Wichita, the Democratic National Committeeman from Arkansas City
"The people of Kansas have voted and I want to offer my congratulations to you, Sen. Schoeppel, on your victory.
"May we now all pull together for a progressive and greater Kansas and America."
expressed hope that members of both parties could work together for a better state and nation. The telegram read:
Anderson's victory never seemed in doubt while the votes were tabulated during the day and night. The big voting areas of Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka, which have been Democratic strongholds for Gov. Docking in the last two gubernatorial elections, apparently did not affect the outcome. Wyandotte and Sedgwick counties failed to save Docking from the flood of Republican votes in other counties as they have in the past two elections.
John Anderson Republican in Governor's mansion.
Docking Continues Fight
A spokesman for the governor said the tide conceivably could still turn in Docking's favor.
At 11:30 p.m. Gov. Docking had not conceded defeat to Anderson, although the latest returns at that time showed him trailing by nearly 21,000 votes.
Our position is this, we're be (Continued on Page 6)
At The Kansas Union Election party workers tabulate returns.
Hundreds of students were seated around the four television sets in the center of the Kansas Union Ballroom.
The rest of the room was packed with election enthusiasts standing in groups, munching popcorn, watching television election results on the main board and wandering about the big room.
The event was the election night party.
Election Fete Features Cheers, Boos, Popcorn
The event was the one in which In one group of five students there was one man wearing blue jeans, sweat shirt, olive drab coat, dirty tennis shoes and a crumpled rain hat.
"I'm from Anderson's home town. He used to live across the street from me in Olathe. My mom plays cards with his old lady." he said to one of his friends.
On the south wall was a 12-foot-high board on which national, state and congressional results were posted.
(Continued on page 7)
Docking's Local Vote Is Small
Republicans carried Douglas County by an overwhelming vote in local election returns. Vice President Richard M. Nixon led in all 26 of the 32 Douglas County precincts reporting. John Anderson led in 25 precincts, Robert Ellsworth in 26 and Andrew Schoeppel in 23 precincts.
Docking Carries Only One Precinct
Gov. George Docking led in only one precinct in Douglas County, and then only by 10 votes unofficially at 3 a.m. today. This was in precinct 1 of ward 5, considered a working class district.
(See page 12 for further details and a precinct breakdown of the county voting.)
There are 18 precincts in Lawrence and 14 county precincts. Election judges in several precincts closed shop around midnight and these returns will not be known until 8 a.m.
Theis Concedes to Schoeppel
In Docking's home precinct, the second in ward 3, located in the Hillcrest area, the vote was 500 for Anderson and 98 for Docking. Docking received a total of 4,260 in the Douglas County precincts reporting and Anderson received 8,577 votes, according to election returns at 3 this morning.
Frank Theis conceded to Andrew Schoeppel at 11:30 last night in the Kansas Congressional race. Theis had led in only three Douglas County precincts—precinct 2 of ward 2 which is largely of college population; in precinct 3 of ward 4
which is made up of new low to middle income housing and in precinct 1 of ward 5 which is the only precinct in which Docking led.
The only precinct which Decking carried in his home county at 3 a.m.
(Continued on page 12)
Bulletin
At 5:30 a.m. United Press International reported that Republican Bob Ellsworth of Lawrence had forged ahead of Democratic incumbent Newell A. George for Congressman from the 2nd district by a margin of 70.146 to 68.-869. Returns from Johnson County pushed Ellsworth into the lead after George had held an earlier lead.