John F. Kennedy and the 1946 Massachusetts Election

Constructing Camelot: John F. Kennedy and the 1946 Massachusetts Special Congressional Election Thesis Campaign Strategy The 1946 John F. Kennedy congressional campaign 1. Decentralized campaign model • Neighborhood secretaries instead of one was successful because of the unique organizaAon, campaign manager image, and opportune Aming of the congressional • Broad strategy set by campaign advisors race. By obtaining a beDer understanding of the but customized by ward secretaries in people, the stories, and the nuances of the Eleventh order to maximize recepAon by Congressional District, Kennedy was able to alter his consAtuents campaign approach and win the elecAon. 2. Strategy of coming in second • Two major opponents were from two large parts of district and many of the • John F. Kennedy PresidenAal Library neighborhoods were dominated by • Pre-PresidenAal Papers hometown candidates • David F. Powers Personal Papers • Kennedy strategy was to garner enough • Oral Histories votes to come in second in each • Library of Congress neighborhood which would win him the elecAon 3. Image Ward 1: East Boston • Perpetuate image of youthful veteran Ward 2: Charlestown who understands the plight of the Ward 3: The North End working man Ward 22: Brighton & parts • Campaign moDo: “The New GeneraAon of Cambridge Offers a Leader” Wards 1,2,3: Somerville 4. Re-tool campaign acAviAes • House ParAes/Kennedy Teas • Two Major opponents: • Knock on every door 1. Mike Neville 2. John CroDer Sources The Eleventh District Conclusions • Kennedy uAlized many different techniques to propel Housing himself into congress • Immediate housing for veterans • Capitalized on the • Long-term housing for homeless changing poliAcal Price Control views of the naAon • Aligned with prominent Democrats • Kennedy was elected (Eleanor Roosevelt) to conAnue price during one of the control largest Republican NaAonal Health sweeps during the • Adequate care for all th century 20 Labor • Employed these • Living minimum wage, good working strategies in condiAons, reasonable working hours subsequent Foreign Policy campaigns • Avoid war at all costs and strengthen UN Campaign Platform 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.