Topeka Daily Capital
Nov. 2, 1960
This is a strange election. Many men who state their choice of either candidate feel compelled to immediately explain that the choice isn’t based on religion. Pollsters and political prophets say in the first paragraph which candidate will win, then use the next 20 paragraphs explaining why the other man could win.
I read a lot about the election, and I gather that it hinges on the “undecided,” vote. You can read that from 6 percent clear up to something like 30 percent of the voters still are undecided. That’s strange to me, too, because I haven’t met a man in weeks who says he is undecided.
My wife is so firmly decided on her vote that she might classify as undecided. She started in the Nixon camp, switched to Kennedy after the first debate, moved back to Nixon and then back to Kennedy in later debates, and now is pretty solidly behind Nixon.
Of course, I haven’t been home in four hours, so that this could have changed. I’m glad, for her sake, that she didn’t see the television programs Sunday afternoon when a lot of the candidates of minor parties were on . . .
In various places, at various hours and with varying degrees of interest and boredom, I’ve heard lively political arguments and seen sizable bets made. Most of these arguments follow the same format. Continue reading
If you were to rate presidents by their sense of humor, you would have to admit that, despite all his weaknesses, John Kennedy was the best ever. Throughout his career, his wit stands out like no president before or since.