All through september and october in the first week of november, the candidates carry their message to the people. It started in july, the Democratic Party nominated john f. Kennedy for president of the United States, and for Vice President senator lyndon johnson. The party united behind its candidates. Richard nixon was the choice of the Republican Party. He served as Vice President since 1953. Now hes a candidate for the presidency. His running mate ambassador henry cabinet large. As the campaign gets underway, the president ial candidate meet face to face in Television Debates seen and heard by millions of people. The same people that will decide which of these two men will leave the country for the next four years. Personal contact with the people is still an essential feature of an american president ial campaign. Senator kennedy a tireless campaigner goes to all sections of the country spelling out his views about foreign policy. The overriding issues the maintenance of peace and meeting the challenge of the international situation. On domestic affairs, he stresses the goals senators kennedys wife jacqueline has to limit her appearances because shes expecting a child. So she is seen by thousands. Give me your help, give me your hands and your voice to move america forward. With these words senator kennedy asked the people to support his candidacy and his program. In 14 weeks of campaigning he attracts enormous crowds. Each of the two candidates travels more than 60,000 miles. They got a small towns in big cities and railroad stations and they meet the people of america. Let Vice President extend his his wife. He introduces her to the people, then he speaks of his program. He speaks of the progress of the past eight years. And the need for keeping experience leaders at the helm of the nation. And their travels, the candidates visit American Indian communities seeking their votes. They meet with people in all parts of the country with easygoing in formality and with the sense of humor. Beginning in hawaii in the 71st weeks of september the Campaign Continues into november. By this time the issues of the campaign have been made clear. Tuesday november 8th is election day all over the country. Straights and buildings are decked with flags. The Campaign Climber has died down and given way to the election. In all the 50 states of the union, this is a holiday. Many places of business are closed. The people are urged to exercise their right to vote. Beginning in the Morning Hours the line up in front of our houses, schools private homes at the places designated as election sites. In some places the voting isnt by paper ballot in other places its by automatic voting machine. By entering the booth, Voters Register their vote for president and Vice President. Then 34 senators, all the members of the house of representatives and the house of governors. They liked judges, assemblyman and other officials. They approve or reject attacks from puzzles for school or housing projects. It will for and against amendments by the state constitution. Their vote affects their country, their children. The main Interest Centers around the election of a new president , and today on election day the big question is how the people vote. In which state will they favor the republican candidate . In which state they will they favor the democratic candidate. Theres been many Public Opinion polls and guesses, no one knows for certain. Everyone is said this would be a close election. In the early Morning Hours a helicopter lands near gettysburg pennsylvania bringing the first at the president s polling place locator in a whole, its still too early to vote. No perception is made for the president. He has to wait five minutes until 7 00. The press always asks the president jokingly for who he is voting for but he wont say. Mr. Eisenhower is completed two terms in office, as a president deeply loved and respected by the people. Of the two balloting puts in the box one is for a is mrs. Eisenhowers turn to vote. Voting hours and voting regulations vary from state to state. In maryland the ambassador and his wife are among diplomatic representatives of all nations invited by the United States government to observe election procedures in various communities. The ambassador is among the observers in the polling system where Voting Machines are used. Another famous signature on the election register is that of Vice President nixon. The other with his wife he cast his ballot in the small town of california where they both went to school where they were married and where today they cast a most important vote of their lives. Senator kennedy and his wife jacqueline voted in his native town of boston massachusetts. All reporters around them, this is the man when the next 24 hours may become president of the United States. And she first lady of the land. In the cities of america, thousands of election precincts the signs of a special day is everywhere. With pride people go to the polls. Today more than any other day, they feel deeply conscious being part of their country. Deeply committed to it, deeply involved in its future. New york, the ambassador burma is observing american citizens preparing to cast their ballot. The American Voters in terms observe the burmese visitors within tristan kinship. The kinship felt by all people who have the freedom to choose their own government. To choose those who would govern the country and their name. That same evening as the polls close in the eastern states, whole country begins to await the results. The Television Networks as they come in from the different parts of the country. The headquarters of the major Television Networks are equipped with entire and Electronic Computers at party headquarters, people gather for what they are hopefully will be a victory celebration. From the very beginning it becomes obvious, this is going to be a close election. After some early encouraging reports for nixon, it appears that kennedy is moving into the league. Then comes the electrifying news that senator kennedy has won the state of connecticut by a larger plurality than expected. He now has eight electoral votes. 269 are needed to win the election. His supporters are jubilant senator kennedy is reported as leading in 17 states with a total of 192 electoral votes. In following the returns, all eyes are on the map of the United States. Each one of the 50 states as a certain number of electoral votes according to the size of its population. Pennsylvania as 32 electoral vote, new york 45. Other key states are california, ohio, texas and illinois. In illinois, it will be so close the league will go back and forth from one candidate to the other. But then, this turns into a seesaw battle in quite a few of the states. All night long. All night long, the figures keep building up. In state after state, millions of voters split their ballots. Back in one president ial nominee, and then voting for candidates from the opposing party for senator, governor congressman. Senator kennedys early lead of 2 million votes swindles perilously as the returns coming from the western states. He holds on to his advantage an electoral votes. The returns are checked by his press secretary. At the press headquarters of the democratic president ial candidate in massachusetts, all eyes are on the screen as Television Commentators announced that nixon is about to make a statement. The time is 3 20 in the morning. In Los Angeles California on the west coast, its 20 minutes past midnight. Vice president and mrs. Nixon appear before the loyal supporters. The scene is broadcast on Television Screens all over america. The president ial candidate of the Republican Party makes his statement. I want to say that one of the great features of america, is that we have and once the decision is made, we unite behind the man who is elected. I want all of you to know, i want i want senator kennedy to know, and i won all of you to know certainly if this trend does continue, and he does become our next president , he will have my whole support and everyone here. Is in the best tradition of american politics, rising above his own personal disappointment, Vice President nixon as shown the way to his supporters. He is asked that in the event of senator kennedys victory the nation unite behind this new president. As the night wears on, deserted chairs are dissemble discouragement and headquarters. The popular vote is still dramatically close. In the end, it will be a narrow victory in minnesota, will give senator kennedy assure hold of the electoral vote of the state. As mourning comes to the cities in the eastern states, the newspapers headlines of center kennedys presidency. He will win by a plurality of less than 1 . Other american president s have been elected this way. Some of them including Abraham Lincoln and wilson by a lower percentage of the popular vote. So john f. Kennedy, a 43 year old senator from massachusetts becomes president of the United States. As president of all the people, his family also becomes the center of nationwide interest. Israel daughter caroline. And his lovely wife jacqueline. She shortly after Vice President officially concedes the election in the early afternoon of wednesday november 9th, senator kennedy appears before the press in massachusetts. With mris wife is father and mother has many brothers and sisters, after acknowledging congratulatory wires from mr. Nixon and eisenhower, you addresses all americans. 12 americans i say that for the next four years are going to be difficult. And challenging years for us all. Election may have been a close one, but i think there is general agreement, by all of our citizens, that a Supreme National effort will be needed in the years ahead to move this country safely through the 1960s. I ask your help, in this effort. And i can assure you that every degree of anything that i possess will be for the interest of the United States. And the cause of freedom around the world. So now my wife and i prepare for a new administration, and for a new baby. Thank you. It is the climax of one of the closest most dramatic elections in american history