y helicopter.” 27 Upon his return to the U.S., Eisenhower had explained to the American people that the Communists had gone to “great lengths and expenses to create disorders in Tokyo.” In reference to Eisenhower’s statement, Divine points out that, “Despite this attempt to blame the Soviets, the administration could not hide the stunning blow to American pride.” 28The final days leading up to Election Day were eventful ones. Kennedy became increasingly popular due to his new ideas, as Kennedy states, “to get America moving again.” This captured the public’s attention, “a public that was enduring about joblessness in a recession and increasing in their acceptance of change. 29 Kennedy’s popularity was also a result of his civil rights action, assisting Martin Luther King in his release from jail, where King more than likely would have been killed. Kennedy also promised to sign an executive order outlawing segregation in federally subsidized housing. King’s release and Kennedy’s promise brought Kennedy the winning margin in Texas and North Carolina and most of the northern black inner-city vote. Thanks to the energetic campaigning of Eisenhower in those final days, Nixon too, was well received. 30 Kennedy won with a 313-219 lead over Nixon in electoral votes, but “out of a record of 68 million votes cast, Kennedy’s margin of victory was about 118,000.” 31 Kennedy had taken 49.7% of the popular vote over Nixon’s 49.5%, a close election. Kennedy’s big wins included New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Michigan and Massachusetts, heavy with electoral votes, whereas Nixon’s victories in California and Ohio could not make up electorally where all of his smaller wins were lacking. 32 Republicans only gained 22 seats in the House and 2 in the Senate. The Democratic Party was popular at the time, leaving them with large m...
