If JFK was nominated for Vice President in 1956?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

What if JFK succeeded in his campaign to win the 1956 Democratic vice presidential nomination over Estes Kefauver?

In my opinion, losing the nod, after a great fight, was the best situation for Kennedy. He gained a lot of publicity, but didn't have to share a certain defeat with Stevenson (something Papa Joe was afraid of).

Would winning 1956 vice presidential nomination help or hurt Kennedy in 1960? Or wouldn't have a major effect on history?

[RogueBeaver]

It would hurt him in the short term, but not affect 1960. He's still by far the best candidate in the otherwise piss-poor Dem field.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Perhaps he might have been able to deliver MA and RI for the Democrats? The idea seems laughable: Eisenhower comfortably defeated Stevenson in an almost 60-40% result in both states. When Kennedy was the nominee in 1960, the Democrats won both states by a similar margin. The electoral college would be the only thing that would change - perhaps MO and NC flip due to Kennedy's Catholicism, I don't know. He still becomes the nominee in 1960 with even greater name recognition.

[Mechaman]

What if JFK succeeded in his campaign to win the 1956 Democratic vice presidential nomination over Estes Kefauver?

In my opinion, losing the nod, after a great fight, was the best situation for Kennedy. He gained a lot of publicity, but didn't have to share a certain defeat with Stevenson (something Papa Joe was afraid of).

Would winning 1956 vice presidential nomination help or hurt Kennedy in 1960? Or wouldn't have a major effect on history?

1920 didn't seem to kill FDR now did it (in fact as you and others keep pointing out it somehow helped him)?