Nixon vs Humphrey 1960

[johnpressman]

Humphrey would have defeated Nixon in 1960, especially if he had chosen LBJ as his Vice Presidential choice.  A Humphrey-Symington ticket would have had a more difficult time as,  both being Midwesterners, their political bases overlap.

By all accounts, 1960 was to be a Democratic year.  The GOP was in disarray and the American public was ready for a new face to lead them out of the post-war world.  I believe the only reason for the closeness of the 1960 race was Kennedy's Catholicism.  If not for adding LBJ to hold Texas and many crucial Southern and Border states, Nixon would have won.  Humphrey, unburdened by the religous issue, would have captured the Northeast, broke even in the Midwest, lost the Western states, but would have lost the South without LBJ on the ticket due to his pro Civil Rights stance.  To sum it up; Humphrey/Symington wins a close one, Humphrey/Johnson cruises to victory in 1960!