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![1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies by [David Pietrusza]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51d7PZRoElL._SY346_.jpg)
1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies Kindle Edition
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This is award-winning historian David Pietrusza's hard-edged account of the 1960 presidential campaign, the election that ultimately gave America “Camelot” and its tragic aftermath. It is the story of the bare-knuckle politics of the primaries; the party conventions' backroom dealings; the unprecedented television debates; the hot-button issues of race, religion, and foreign policy—and, at the center of it all, three future presidents: Lyndon Johnson, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.
“Terrific.” —Robert A. Caro, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and the National Book Award
“A stirring, hard-edged political saga… An outstanding reexamination.”—Booklist
"1960 provides new insights into that year's hard-fought, pivotal election, but, more than that, 1960 is great storytelling—a fascinating, can’t-put-it-down account of how American politics really works.”—former United States Attorney General Richard Thornburgh
“Essential for understanding the political forces that in many ways shaped the world we live in today.” —David Mark, author of Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDiversion Books
- Publication date4 September 2018
- File size4338 KB
Product description
Review
Finalist for the Edgar Award in Best Fact Crime
"Pietrusza does a terrific job of capturing Rothstein's colorful career and sheds new light on [his] role in fixing the World Series, disputing the standard history." --New York Times Book Review
"An engaging biography. . . . Puts real flesh on the story of how the new machinery of mass entertainment--the yellow press, movies, radio, the recording industry--created and brought together the culture of celebrity, politics, big-time sports, stock market fortunes and organized crime in the 1920s." --Washington Post Book World
Praise for 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents
"Broad, fluid brush strokes. . . . a brisk narrative." --The Wall Street Journal (rated one of the Top Five Books on Presidential Campaigns)
"David Pietrusza has a gift for making the past both real and dramatically gripping, and in 1920 he has an extraordinary cast of characters with which to work his magic. ... one helluva historical dinner party. An unforgettable group portrait of America on the brink of modernity." --Richard Norton Smith
"More than just a story of six men who either already had been president or would be, this is the story of America as it moved into the modern age." --Denver Post
"A rousing chronicle. . . . Pietrusza . . . adds color and dimension with smart discussions of Prohibition, women's suffrage, immigration, civil rights, the League of Nations and labor strife, and he offers animated portraits.... A hugely fascinating episode in American history, told with insight and great humor, by an author in command of his subject." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Absorbing. . . . a broad, satisfying political and social history, in the style of Doris Kearns Goodwin." --Publishers Weekly
"Fascinating and compelling. . . . Highly recommended." --Library Journal
Praise for 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR―Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal, and Unlikely Destiny
"1932 confirmed my belief that David Pietrusza is the best historian of our times. Deep, clever, witty, master of the subject." ―Columnist and film critic Ivan Denisov
"[E]xtremely well written and researched. Highly recommended!!" ―Huffington Post critic Rob Taub
Praise for 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon--The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies
"1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies aims to take us deeper into the campaign than Theodore White's famous The Making of the President, 1960. And it does. . . ." -Chicago Sun-Times
"Here's what Theodore White didn't tell you in The Making of the President, 1960." -Denver Post
"Almost half a century after Theodore White's The Making of the President, 1960, Pietrusza raises the bar with his winning and provocative chronicle . . . Highly recommended." --Library Journal (starred review)
"The 1960 presidential campaign season was dominated by the personalities of three men, each of whom became president. Award-winning author Pietrusza chronicles their roles and character in a stirring, hard-edged political saga. . . . An outstanding reexamination." -Booklist
"The bare-knuckle primaries. The back-room dealing of the conventions. The historic television debates. The explosive controversies of race, religion, and foreign policy. And, above all, the towering clash of personalities--LBJ, JFK, and Nixon. They're all here in David Pietrusza's superb 1960. 1960 provides new insights into that year's hard-fought, pivotal election, but, more than that, 1960is great story-telling--a fascinating, can't-put-it-down account of how American politics really works." --Former United States Attorney General Richard Thornburgh
"This is the very best book about the 1960 Presidential election. . . ." -POTUSGeeks Blog
Praise for 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America
"Outstanding. . . . by far the best yet about the fateful [1948] election." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"Reads like a movie thriller waiting to be filmed." --Washington Times
"Coherent, compelling. . . . A skillful, authoritative investigation." --Kirkus Reviews
"Pietrusza is the undisputed champion of chronicling American Presidential campaigns." --Dead Presidents blog
"Sweeping . . . compelling." --Library Journal
"A masterpiece!" --Roger Stone
"In 1948 David Pietrusza brings to light some of the forgotten but important figures in American political history. There's Glen Taylor, the singing senator from Idaho and running mate of Henry Wallace on perhaps the most left-wing national ticket of the past century. Mississippi Fielding Wright also makes a memorable appearance as understudy for segregationist South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond, a reminder of just how solid the South was for Democrats at one time. Pietrusza brilliantly portrays President Harry Truman's successful efforts to stave off the challenge of New York Gov. Tom Dewey, who was making a repeat bid as the Republican nominee. Though Dewey lost, readers will come to see him as a surprisingly civil libertarian-minded candidate, opposing the banning of the Communist Party, despite its promotion of a noxious ideology." --David Mark, Senior Editor, POLITICO
"A terrific book. . . . a must-read." --Ron Faucheux, editor-in-chief, Campaigns & Elections magazine
"If you think [2012] is wild, this is really wild--Harry Truman and Henry Wallace and Strom Thurmond and Tom Dewey." --Tom Brokaw
Praise for 1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon--The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies
"1960: LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies aims to take us deeper into the campaign than Theodore White's famous The Making of the President, 1960. And it does. . . ." -Chicago Sun-Times
"Here's what Theodore White didn't tell you in The Making of the President, 1960." -Denver Post
"The 1960 presidential campaign season was dominated by the personalities of three men, each of whom became president. Award-winning author Pietrusza chronicles their roles and character in a stirring, hard-edged political saga. . . . An outstanding reexamination." -Booklist
"The bare-knuckle primaries. The back-room dealing of the conventions. The historic television debates. The explosive controversies of race, religion, and foreign policy. And, above all, the towering clash of personalities--LBJ, JFK, and Nixon. They're all here in David Pietrusza's superb 1960. 1960 provides new insights into that year's hard-fought, pivotal election, but, more than that, 1960is great story-telling--a fascinating, can't-put-it-down account of how American politics really works." --Former United States Attorney General Richard Thornburgh
Praise for Rothstein: The Life, Times, and Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series
Finalist for the Edgar Award in Best Fact Crime
"Pietrusza does a terrific job of capturing Rothstein's colorful career and sheds new light on [his] role in fixing the World Series, disputing the standard history." --New York Times Book Review
"An engaging biography. . . . Puts real flesh on the story of how the new machinery of mass entertainment--the yellow press, movies, radio, the recording industry--created and brought together the culture of celebrity, politics, big-time sports, stock market fortunes and organized crime in the 1920s." --Washington Post Book World
Praise for 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents
"Broad, fluid brush strokes. . . . a brisk narrative." --The Wall Street Journal (rated one of the Top Five Books on Presidential Campaigns)
"David Pietrusza has a gift for making the past both real and dramatically gripping, and in 1920 he has an extraordinary cast of characters with which to work his magic. ... one helluva historical dinner party. An unforgettable group portrait of America on the brink of modernity." --Richard Norton Smith
"More than just a story of six men who either already had been president or would be, this is the story of America as it moved into the modern age." --Denver Post
"A rousing chronicle. . . . Pietrusza . . . adds color and dimension with smart discussions of Prohibition, women's suffrage, immigration, civil rights, the League of Nations and labor strife, and he offers animated portraits.... A hugely fascinating episode in American history, told with insight and great humor, by an author in command of his subject." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Absorbing. . . . a broad, satisfying political and social history, in the style of Doris Kearns Goodwin." --Publishers Weekly
"Fascinating and compelling. . . . Highly recommended." --Library Journal
Praise for 1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR―Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal, and Unlikely Destiny
"1932 confirmed my belief that David Pietrusza is the best historian of our times. Deep, clever, witty, master of the subject." ―Columnist and film critic Ivan Denisov
"[E]xtremely well written and researched. Highly recommended!!" ―Huffington Post critic Rob Taub
Praise for 1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America
"Outstanding. . . . by far the best yet about the fateful [1948] election." --Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"Reads like a movie thriller waiting to be filmed." --Washington Times
"Coherent, compelling. . . . A skillful, authoritative investigation." --Kirkus Reviews
"Pietrusza is the undisputed champion of chronicling American Presidential campaigns." --Dead Presidents blog
"Sweeping . . . compelling." --Library Journal
"A masterpiece!" --Roger Stone
"In 1948 David Pietrusza brings to light some of the forgotten but important figures in American political history. There's Glen Taylor, the singing senator from Idaho and running mate of Henry Wallace on perhaps the most left-wing national ticket of the past century. Mississippi Fielding Wright also makes a memorable appearance as understudy for segregationist South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond, a reminder of just how solid the South was for Democrats at one time. Pietrusza brilliantly portrays President Harry Truman's successful efforts to stave off the challenge of New York Gov. Tom Dewey, who was making a repeat bid as the Republican nominee. Though Dewey lost, readers will come to see him as a surprisingly civil libertarian-minded candidate, opposing the banning of the Communist Party, despite its promotion of a noxious ideology." --David Mark, Senior Editor, POLITICO
"A terrific book. . . . a must-read." --Ron Faucheux, editor-in-chief, Campaigns & Elections magazine
"If you think [2012] is wild, this is really wild--Harry Truman and Henry Wallace and Strom Thurmond and Tom Dewey." --Tom Brokaw
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B087WLC522
- Publisher : Diversion Books (4 September 2018)
- Language : English
- File size : 4338 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 792 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 320,705 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 97 in Elections (Kindle Store)
- 252 in Elections (Books)
- 623 in U.S. Government
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Praised as "a national treasure" and one "of the best historians in the United States," "one of the great political historians of all time," and "the undisputed champion of chronicling American Presidential campaigns." David Pietrusza has produced a number of critically-acclaimed works concerning 20th century American history. Critics have compared his work to that of Eric Larson, H. L. Mencken, Theodore H. White, Edmund Morris, H. R. Brands, and Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Amazon rated his "TR's Last War: Theodore Roosevelt, the Great War, and a Journey of Triumph and Tragedy" as the "#1 New Release" in World War 1 Biographies. It also captured the Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal for US History and achieved Finalist status for the Theodore Roosevelt Book Prize.
His "1932: The Rise of Hitler and FDR: Two Tales of Politics, Betrayal, and Unlikely Destiny" (starred review-Kirkus) won the Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal for World History and was nominated for the American Library Association (ALA)'s Notable Books Council's 2015 Notable Books List.
His "1948: Harry Truman's Improbable Victory and the Year that Transformed America," a study of the dramatic 1948 presidential campaign, is a selection of the History Book Club, the Book-of-the-Month Club, and the Literary Guild. The Wall Street Journal praised "1948" as among the "Five Best" books on "Campaigns and Candidates."
ForeWord Magazine designated his book "1960: LBJ vs JFK vs Nixon: The Epic Campaign that Forged Three Presidencies" as among the best political biographies. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Caro has termed "1960" "terrific."
Pietrusza's "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" received a Kirkus starred review, was honored as a Kirkus "Best Books of 2007" title, and was named an alternate selection of the History Book Club. Historian Richard Norton Smith has listed "1920: The Year of the Six Presidents" as being among the best studies of presidential campaigns. The Wall Street Journal rated "1920" as among the Five Best Books on Political Campaigns ("broad, fluid brush strokes . . . a brisk narrative")
Pietrusza's biography of Arnold Rothstein entitled "Rothstein: The Life, Times & Murder of the Criminal Genius Who Fixed the 1919 World Series" was a finalist for the 2003 Edgar Award. Rothstein's audio version won an AUDIOFILE Earphones Award.
Pietrusza has edited three volumes on the career and works of Calvin Coolidge: "Silent Cal's Almanack: The Homespun Wit & Wisdom of Vermont's Calvin Coolidge," "Calvin Coolidge: A Documentary Biography," and "Coolidge on the Founders: Calvin Coolidge on the American Revolution & the Founding Fathers." Says Amity Shlaes: "an authority on the 1920s and [Calvin] Coolidge . . . David Pietrusza has brought Coolidge back to life with his volumes about the president . . ."
Pietrusza's "Judge and Jury, his biography of baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis," received the 1998 CASEY Award and was also a Finalist for the 1998 Seymour Medal and nominated for the NASSH Book Award.
Pietrusza collaborated with baseball legend Ted Williams on an autobiography called "Ted Williams: My Life in Pictures."
Pietrusza holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University at Albany. He has assisted in teaching seminars at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics (David Axelrod, director) and at the William F. Buckley, Jr. Program at Yale and has served as a guest lecturer at Fordham University, The King's College (New York City), and Southeast Missouri State University. He has spoken at the John F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, and Franklin D. Roosevelt presidential libraries and museums, as well as at various universities, libraries, festivals, and museums (including the Chicago History Museum, the Sixth Floor Museum, the Flagler Museum, and the National Automobile Museum). He has keynoted the annual birthday ceremonies at the graves of presidents Calvin Coolidge and Chester Alan Arthur and spoken at Wilton, New York's Grant Cottage, scene of the death of President Ulysses S. Grant.
His books have been utilized as texts by such colleges as George Washington University, the City University of New York, the University at Buffalo, Baylor University, Bellevue College, the University of Illinois, the University of San Francisco, and Portland State College. "1920" has been part of the syllabus for the course "Congress, The Presidency & 21st Century Media" offered by C-SPAN, The Cable Center, and the University of Denver. His talk on "Silent Cal's Almanack" is included in the curriculum for the C-SPAN Classroom initiative.
Pietrusza served as president (1993-97) of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), and as editor-in-chief of the publishing company Total Sports.
He has been interviewed on NPR, MSNBC, C-SPAN (including "The Contenders" and "First Ladies: Influence & Image"), C-SPAN Book TV (including "In Depth"), C-SPAN American History TV, ESPN, the Fox News Channel, the History Channel ("The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents"), the American Heroes Channel ("Mafia's Greatest Hits"), the John Batchelor Show, the Hugh Hewitt Show, EBRU-TV, GBTV, the Voice of America, Newsmax TV, "Secrets of New York," the Fox Sports Channel ("Baseball's Golden Age"), and Compound Media. He has produced and wrote the PBS-affiliate documentary, "Local Heroes." He has served as a regular panelist for FoxNews.com Live.
Pietrusza has appeared on numerous podcasts, including the "Matt Lewis Show Podcast," the United States World War I Centennial Commission weekly podcast, "The History Author Show," "Coffee & Markets," Jonah Goldberg's "The Remnant" podcast; Roifield Brown's London-based "10 American Presidents" (the Franklin Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt episodes), "10 American Elections" (the 1964 and 1948 episodes), and "Friday 15" series; Salena Zito's presidential series discussing Calvin Coolidge, Harry S Truman, and Lyndon B. Johnson; Bill Scher's "New Books in Politics" podcast for the New Books Network; the Derek Hunter Podcast, the Halli Casser-Jayne Show, the Gotham Variety Podcast, and Max Sklar's "The Local Maximum," as well as discussing Arnold Rothstein on Erik Rivenes' "More Notorious: A True Crime History Podcast," Noah Brace's "Mobcast," and Harry Sultan's "The Wheels Keep Spinning."
An internationally recognized expert on American presidential elections, he has been interviewed by Le Figaro, Le Monde, Radio-France, Radio-France International, Agence France Presse, Germany's Die Zeit, Greece's To Vima, and Denmark's Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten.
Pietrusza holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University at Albany and has served on the City Council in Amsterdam, New York. He has served as public information officer for both the NYS Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform and the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.
Pietrusza is the Recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Arts & Letters Award of the Alumni Association of the University at Albany and a member of the initial induction class of the Greater Amsterdam (NY) School District Hall of Fame.
Learn more at www.davidpietrusza.com
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If you want balanced good political history try the same author's 1920 and 1948.. They are excellent and in a different class to this one



With such high stakes in one election, one needs a book like 1960 and an author like David Pietrusza whose fluid narratives and grudging trust of politicians seems perfectly placed. He tries to give the reader something of a panoramic view of the campaign, in that we don’t just learn about the main players, but about things that have been relegated to history. For example, Nixon received a token-press challenge from the eccentric Nelson Rockefeller or that there were legitimate doubts about Kennedy’s liberal credentials—anyone remember a brief clamoring for Adlai Stevenson?
It is these tidbits that make Pietrusza’s books really fun because most people know the outcome of 1960, but the road getting there is more than half the fun. For someone who is used to the party conventions being more of a coronation of the national ticket and the primaries being king, the sections on the various primaries and how they didn’t matter and the convention nominating procedures is like a Brave New World. Still because of his writing, I felt like I could’ve been there.
