The Turn of the Century and on timeline

[GPORTER]

Rizley not there yet, but on his way. California goes for the republican.
Ross Rizley came into tonight hoping to be the first republican president in twenty years. Hes not there yet, but getting closer. California, a big 32 electoral vote prize drops for the republican candidate tonight. Rizley takes the golden state.

Ross Rizley
California 32 electoral votes

Patterson: 201        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

Thats another projection. Lets turn quickly to our panel.

I can't say it enough, New York and Pennsylvania. No candidate can without either of them, we can say that congressman Rizley leads right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if governor Patterson took victory from the jaws of defeat.

With that thought we'll be back with more. Stay with us, we'll come back.

Patterson: 201        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

election '52 coverage

[GPORTER]

Were back on the air again because Pennsylvania, the keystone state, goes for governor Patterson. Okey Patterson wins in Pennsylvania tonight.

Okey Patterson
Pennsylvania 32 electoral votes

Patterson: 244        Rizley: 233        266 needed to win

Thats a big projection tonight. It might not be too much of a surprise, keep in mind back in 1940, former President Lowden lost to now outgoing President Roosevelt just because Pennsylvania suddenly went to the democratic candidate. The keystone state goes democrat for the third straight time tonight.

Do the election returns surprise anyone at this hour tonight?

I think the republicans are a little more disappointed tonight. This is the sixth election in which they have performed poorly.

Stop, we have something here. Okey Patterson is the President elect of the United States. We can declare the state of New York...

I heard it

The state of New York does go for governor Patterson tonight and the demcorats according to this, control the White House for  another four years.

Okey Patterson
New York 45 electoral votes

Patterson: 278        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

Back in a moment.

Patterson: 278        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

election '52 coverage

[GPORTER]

We have one more declaration to make tonight, governor Patterson...now President elect Patterson adds Washington state to his victory column.

Okey Patterson
Washington 9 electoral votes

Patterson: 287        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

The democrats control congress at least for the next two years. Governor Okey Patterson of West Virgnia wins the presidential election in an upset. To everyone who has been a part of this one, thank you and we'll be with you again.

Patterson: 287        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

election '52 coverage

[GPORTER]

Final Election 1952 Results

President:

Patterson: 287        Rizley: 244        266 needed to win

Senate:

Republican: 44        Democrat: 52        Independent: 0        49 needed for absolute majority

House of Representatives:
Republican: 97        Democrat: 328        213 needed for absolute majority

Election Note: Probably a smart decision by the democrats to nominate a new generation democrat candidate against a little known republican nominee. Democrats win control of the senate in a hard fought campaign, but win in a landslide in the house of representatives.

election '52 results

[GPORTER]

1954 Mid Term Election Results

Senate:

Republican: 46        Democrat: 50        49 needed for absolute majority

House:

Republican: 85        Democrat: 341        213 needed for absolute majority

[GPORTER]

List of Presidents Thus Far.

24. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889; 1893-1901)
25. William McKinley (1901-1913)
26. Thomas Marshall (1913-1921)
27. Alton Parker (1921-1925)
28. Herbert Hoover (1925-1932)
29. Frank Lowden (1932-1933)
30. Al Smith (1933-1941)
31. Franklin Roosevelt (1941-1953)
32. Okey Patterson (1953-present)

[GPORTER]

President Okey Patterson took office in January 1953, after winning an upset victory in the 1952 presidential election. Patterson kept for the most part a low profile during his term, one notable thing occurred when in 1950 the constitution was officially amended to say that Presidents could only serve two terms in office, not including the incumbent President.
As 1956 approached, despite the odds of his party winning an unprecedented seventh term in office, Patterson announced his candidacy for reelection to the presidency. Another new face would be seen on the democratic party ticket. Vice President Frances Perkins was dropped from the ticket, Pennsylvania governor George Leader would replace her on the ticket. Perkins would serve out the rest of her term in office. Patterson was renominated and Leader nominated at the democratic national convention in the summer of 1956.
For the republicans, Dan Thornton, governor of Colorado, was nominated for President at the republican convention. Delaware governor Caleb Boggs was selected as the vice presidential nominee on the republican ticket. The Thornton/Boggs ticket maintained a lead in the polls throughout the campaign, attributing their lead to democratic fatigue across the country and an unemployment rate that is slowly rising since the year 1950. Patterson began to close the gap as the campaign drew to a close, but it appeared to not be enough. The President went into election day trailing by five percentage points to the republican ticket.

[GPORTER]

Patterson Apparantly Having No Trouble in South. Can't Call Indiana Yet.
Good evening, we are here again with another election to cover tonight. President Patterson seeks to carry the democratic party to a seventh straight victory for the presidency, governor Thornton a new comer to the national political scene, leads in the polls. Six states have closed their polls at this hour and we have some projections.

First in Georgia, a state that almost always votes democrat, does it again. Georgia goes for the President.

Okey Patterson
Georgia 12 electoral votes

Diddo in South Carolina, took a long time to call that one four years ago, not so this time. Patterson wins easily in South Carolina.

Okey Patterson
South Carolina 8 electoral votes

The race in Kentucky, a battleground state this year. The blue grass state is undecided at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Kentucky 10 electoral votes

We can also say that Virgnia is undeicded at this hour. Can't make a call in Virgnia at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Virgnia 12 electoral votes

A projection for the governor. First in Vermont, governor Thornton wins this traditional republican state.

Dan Thornton
Vermont 3 electoral votes

Indiana. This will be a disappointment for republicans at this hour, maybe. Undecided in the hoosier state at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Indiana 13 electoral votes

Patterson: 20        Thornton: 3        266 needed to win

Back with our panel in a moment.

Patterson: 20        Thornton: 3        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Three Big Ones for Thornton. Bad news for democrats.
Welcome back again to our election night coverage. Its bad news for democrats at this hour.

First in Virgnia, this state was undecided at the top of the hour, things have changed since then. Governor Dan Thornton wins in Virgnia.

Dan Thornton
Virgnia 12 electoral votes

Diddo in the buckeye state, this state voted republican in the last two elections and does it again tonight. Ohio goes for the governor tonight.

Dan Thornton
Ohio 25 electoral votes

Another call in Indiana. The hoosier state drops for the governor tonight.

Dan Thornton
Indiana 13 electoral votes

At this hour we can add West Virgnia to the undecided column. Too close to call between the President and the governor in West Virgnia at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
West Virgnia 8 electoral votes

Lets now look at the updated electoral map as it stands at the 7:30 hour.

Patterson: 20        Thornton: 53        266 needed to win

Okay, back in a moment.

Patterson: 20        Thornton: 53        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

8 o'clock hour. Illinois and Other Major Wins to Thornton, Patterson Not Out of Race.
Welcome back again, fifteen states have closed their polls at this 8 o'clock hour on the east coast. Governor Thornton appears to be doing well, but Patterson clinging to hope that he can survive these big poll closing hours.

This might serve the President well. Alabama drops for the President tonight.

Okey Patterson
Alabama 11 electoral votes

But here comes the trouble. Connecticut, the great presidential belwhether goes for the former governor tonight.

Dan Thornton
Connecticut 8 electoral votes

Delaware, the home state of the republican vice presidential candidate governor Caleb Boggs. Voted democrat four years ago, Delaware is undecided at the top of this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Delaware 3 electoral votes

Illinois, if you were looking for some big news, here it is. Illinois goes for the governor tonight. Thornton picks up a major victory at this hour. Illinois goes back to the republican column and for governor Thornton.

Dan Thornton
Illinois 27 electoral votes

Maine. A big republican stronghold, the White House would have expected this tonight. Maine goes for governor Dan Thornton, the republican.

Dan Thornton
Maine 5 electoral votes

Florida, the sunshine state. The President holds a narrow lead there at this hour, the state remains undecided.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Florida 10 electoral votes

Maryland, this can't be good for the democrats. Dan Thornton stacking up wins at this hour, takes Maryland.

Dan Thornton
Maryland 9 electoral votes

Diddo in the bay state. Massachussetts goes for the republican tonight. Thornton takes Massachussetts.

Dan Thornton
Massachussetts 16 electoral votes

Despite some of this, Okey Patterson, the incumbent President takes Mississippi tonight.

Okey Patterson
Mississippi 8 electoral votes

In Missouri. The show me state is too early to call at this hour. Can't make a projection in Missouri.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Missouri 13 electoral votes

New Hampshire. Heres another state for the governor, Dan Thornton the republican wins in New Hampshire easily tonight.

Dan Thornton
New Hampshire 4 electoral votes

Diddo in New Jersey. Jersey goes for the republican tonight.

Dan Thornton
New Jersey 16 electoral votes

Oklahoma, a state that has a history of voting with the democrats but for a few exceptions. Oklahoma is undecided at this hour between Patterson and Thornton.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Oklahoma 8 electoral votes

Same story in Pennsylvania. The keystone state, the governor of Pennsylvania joined the democratic ticket to try to maybe, just maybe keep that state in the President's column. Can they do it tonight? We can't say at this hour, undecided in Pennsylvania.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Pennsylvania 32 electoral votes

Tennessee, we can say that the volunteer state is undecided at this hour between the two candidates. Voted for Patterson four years ago.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Tennessee 11 electoral votes

And we can look at our electoral map now. Thornton holds a lead, carrying some big states at this hour.

Patterson: 39        Thornton: 138        266 needed to win

Lets turn to our panel. Is Patterson in trouble tonight?

Well, certainly Illinois and Ohio going apparantly so easily against him is not good news. Enough states are outstanding at this moment, we know they can fall either way at any time. At this moment, the President is still in the race.

Does the south worry the democrats?

The break up of the south is certainly not good news for them.

Thornton has won this thing.

Really, you believe that.

If the writing is not on the wall yet for the White House, its coming.

More in a moment. President Patterson in a struggle to hold the White House, but is it over? That question remains to be answered.

Patterson: 39        Thornton: 138        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Good evening again, we have a few more projections to tell you about as polls close in Arkansas and North Carolina. Lets look them over.

In Arkansas, despite a questionable mood toward democrats, Patterson holds on to the state of Arkansas tonight. Arkansas stays in the democratic column.

Okey Patterson
Arkansas 8 electoral votes

North Carolina. If the trend continues, the President might be in trouble in the upper south region. Virgnia already gone, North Carolina is undecided at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
North Carolina 14 electoral votes

A call in Florida. Widening the lead for the republican at this hour, Thornton takes Florida.

Dan Thornton
Florida 10 electoral votes

Patterson: 47        Thornton: 148        266 needed to win

West Virgnia will stay in the democratic column. That was expected to be close, but we can call it at this hour for the President. Should brighten the mood at the White House tonight at least for now.

Okey Patterson
West Virgnia 8 electoral votes

Patterson: 55        Thornton: 148        266 needed to win

Back in a moment



Since the turn of the century began, two incumbent Presidents have lost their bids for reelection. Alton Parker won in an upset over Ohio senator Warren Harding in a year favored for republicans, but lost by a comfortable margin in 1924 to Herbert Hoover thus ending the Marshall/Parker era in power. The other occurence came eight years later. Herbert Hoover was assassinated in early 1932, vice president Frank Lowden became President and ran for the office that year. Scandal came to rock the White House and Lowden lost narrowly to Al Smith.

election '56 coverage

[ask_not]

I  like this timeline.

[GPORTER]

Good evening again. We have a major projection at this hour. New York, the empire state goes for governor Thornton, a major and signficant victory for the republican candidate tonight.

Dan Thornton
New York 45 electoral votes

Arizona. We can declare that state for the governor. Thornton hoping for a strong showing in the west tonight.

Dan Thornton
Arizona 4 electoral votes

Diddo in Colorado. The home state of the governor votes for its home town boy, Colorado goes for governor Dan Thornton.

Dan Thornton
Colorado 6 electoral votes

We can declare Thornton the winner in Kansas tonight.

Dan Thornton
Kansas 8 electoral votes

Louisiana. The state of Louisiana is undecided at this hour between the two candidates.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Louisiana 10 electoral votes

We can declare the state of Michigan to be undecided at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Michigan 20 electoral votes

Same story in Minnesota, too close to call there.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Minnesota 11 electoral votes

We can declare governor Thornton to be the winner in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska stays in the republican column tonight.

Dan Thornton
Nebraska 6 electoral votes

Missouri. This projection just came in, uplifting news for the White House. President Patterson wins Missouri, as the state remains in the democratic column.

Okey Patterson
Missouri 13 electoral votes

New Mexico, that state goes for the republican tonight. Dan Thornton wins in New Mexico.

Dan Thornton
New Mexico 4 electoral votes

Diddo in Rhode Island, a surprise for the republicans tonight. Dan Thornton takes Rhode Island tonight.

Dan Thornton
Rhode Island 4 electoral votes

South Dakota drops for governor Thornton, Thornton wins in South Dakota tonight.

Dan Thornton
South Dakota 4 electoral votes

Texas, the lone star state. The President needs Texas if hes to win reelection tonight. Texas is undecided at this hour.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Texas 24 electoral votes

Wisconsin. Dan Thornton wins easily in Wisconsin tonight.

Dan Thornton
Wisconsin 12 electoral votes

And Wyoming. Wyoming goes for the republican, governor Thornton tonight.

Dan Thornton
Wyoming 3 electoral votes

Patterson: 68        Thornton: 244        266 needed to win

We have a major projection here now. Dan Thornton is the President of the United States. Pennsylvania goes for Thornton, the presidency is Thornton. Thats it. Dan Thornton will become the 33rd President of the United States, the first American President to be held to a two four year term rule.

Dan Thornton
Pennsylvania 32 electoral votes

Dan Thornton
President of the United States of America

Patterson: 68        Thornton: 276        266 needed to win

It goes from governor Thornton to President Thornton tonight. Bringing twenty-four years of democratic control of the White House to an end. We are coming back with more, probably hearing from the candidates soon. Stay right here with us, we'll continue in a moment.

Patterson: 68        Thornton: 276        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Welcome back to our election coverage where we have just declared that we will have the first republican in the White House since 1932. Lets turn to our panel now, was this really expected tonight?

The White House believed that if they could hold their own in some of these states where the polls were tightening, that they might be able to pull out a victory. All along however a seventh straight win for one political party seemed unlikely.

And the republican camp, was this expected?

It was. They saw the polls tighten as election day drew near but felt that they had a big enough lead to hold on and win the election tonight, which apparantly now they have done.

Kentucky drops to Patterson. I'm sorry to have to interrupt. The bluegrass state goes democrat again, would be a surprise to some. But it won't help them now.

Okey Patterson
Kentucky 10 electoral votes

We can declare Louisiana for now President elect Thornton. That will be a disappointment for democrats tonight.

Dan Thornton
Louisiana 10 electoral votes

We can declare the state of Delaware, Delaware goes republican and for Dan Thornton tonight.

Dan Thornton
Delaware 3 electoral votes

And in Michigan, Thornton wins in Michigan tonight.

Dan Thornton
Michigan 20 electoral votes

Patterson: 78        Thornton: 309        266 needed to win

Okay, back in a moment.

Patterson: 78        Thornton: 309        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Good evening again. At 10 o'clock on the east coast, we have some more projections to tell you about, most of which are for the now President elect Thornton. We are yet to hear anything from either camp the republican or democrat, but we have projected here that Dan Thornton is the next President of the United States.

To add to his victory total, Iowa a traditional republican state goes for the GOP again tonight. Dan Thornton, now President elect, adds Iowa to his winning column tonight.

Dan Thornton
Iowa 10 electoral votes

We can declare Idaho for the republican. The west becoming more and more republican sends Idaho to Thornton's column.

Dan Thornton
Idaho 4 electoral votes

North Carolina, another southern state goes for President Patterson.

Okey Patterson
North Carolina 14 electoral votes

Utah goes to the republican. My how the west has changed.

Dan Thornton
Utah 4 electoral votes

We can declare Nevada for the republican. Thornton takes Nevada tonight.

Dan Thornton
Nevada 3 electoral votes

Montana at this hour is added to the undecided column. Montana is too close to call, won't mean anything now however.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Montana 4 electoral votes

And in North Dakota. Thornton wins in North Dakota.

Dan Thornton
North Dakota 4 electoral votes

Lets look at our map now as the President elect picks up more states in his victory column.

Patterson: 92        Thornton: 334        266 needed to win

Okay, back in a moment.

Patterson: 92        Thornton: 334        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Lets look at our board now, as we have polls closing at the 11 o'clock hour on the east coast. Lets see what has changed if anything.

Patterson: 112        Thornton: 338        266 needed to win

Lets look these projections over.

First in California, the golden state remains too close to call at this hour. California in the undecided column.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
California 32 electoral votes

Diddo in Oregon. Oregon is too close to call.

Okey Patterson vs. Dan Thornton
Oregon 6 electoral votes

Montana. A state early determined to be undecided goes to President elect Thornton tonight.

Dan Thornton
Montana 4 electoral votes

We do have two projections for the democratic incumbent. Washington state, went democrat four years ago and does so again tonight, could be an indication of a democratic strength on the west coast. Patterson wins in Washington state tonight.

Okey Patterson
Washington 9 electoral votes

Minnesota another state that was outstanding as of earlier, President Patterson comes through at least in that state and carries  Minnesota tonight.

Okey Patterson
Minnesota 11 electoral votes

We'll be coming back here, Thornton wins. Maybe a little bit about congressional control when we come back.

Patterson: 112        Thornton: 338        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Thornton Expands Lead in Golden state and the Lone Star state. Patterson conceeds in Charleston, WV.
We are back on at the decision desk. In California, the golden state drops for the republican again this year. Dan Thornton wins in the gold state tonight.

Dan Thornton
California 32 electoral votes

And another win, this will come as a surprise to some. President elect Thornton wins the lone star state, Texas tonight.

Dan Thornton
Texas 24 electoral votes

Patterson: 112        Thornton: 394        266 needed to win

Thanks to our decision desk again tonight doing what they do so well since this all began with the 1896 election. Would we have thought calling Grover Cleveland the winner in 1896 because of a 500 vote difference in 1896, would we have thought we would be here in 1956 calling Dan Thornton, the governor of Colorado the winner.

No and its history, this is the first time republicans will have had the White House since 1932.

Lets go now the Charleston, West Virgnia where Okey Patterson is conceeding.

…I called Dan Thornton and offered him God speed, because he deserves God speed and that means he deserves our help. Now I don’t want anyone, I don’t want anyone to feel like they lost a thing. I don’t want for anyone to leave here tonight without a great deal of pride in their hearts. We had a great four years, this is not the end of the world, it’s the end of a campaign. And I want to thank…

President Patterson conceeding this election there before a crowd with his family in Charleston. Patterson won an upset win four years ago, but it was not to be tonight. We'll be back with more election 1956 coverage.

Patterson: 112        Thornton 394        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Another update coming up later today.

[GPORTER]

Getting some ideas for 1960, anyone want to see another independent run for President?

[GPORTER]

Final Calls of the Night. One for the defeated incumbent democrat.
Welcome back. We have three more states still outstanding, two of which at least we can now make a projection. First in the volunteer state, yes the defeated democrat Okey Patterson wins Tennessee tonight. Tennessee remains in the democratic column.

Okey Patterson
Tennessee 11 electoral votes

Another call to add the the President-elect's column. Dan Thornton, the next President of the United States according to our projections, takes the state of Oregon. Oregon for the President elect.

Dan Thornton
Oregon 6 electoral votes

And finally Oklahoma. The closest state of the night, Thornton wins in Oklahoma.

Dan Thornton
Oklahoma 8 electoral votes

Lets now take a final look at the electoral map tonight.

Patterson: 114        Thornton: 417        266 needed to win

And with our panel one last time for election '56. After winning six straight presidential elections, the democrat President barley gets one hundred electoral votes.

And it was bound to happen sometime, I was surprised it didn't happen four years ago. I think the democrats made a smart decision in nominating a fresh face, someone new for President that year. It was the only way they could win and they did, tonight that fresh face goes down.

Any thoughts at all from our panel? The difference between Ross Rizley and Dan Thornton?

Dan Thornton is more acceptable to the electorate, Ross Rizley was seen as extreme and I don't think they wanted a President "Ross Rizley."

But they do have a President Thornton. Its time to sign off now, from all of us here again, to my readers thank you. Theres more of this to come, we look forward to seeing you again. Until then though, see you later.

Patterson: 114        Thornton: 417        266 needed to win

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

Final Election 1956 Results

President:

Patterson: 123        Thornton: 408        266 needed to win

Senate:

Republican: 55        Democrat: 41        Independent: 0        49 needed for absolute majority

House:

Republican: 99        Democrat: 327        213 needed for absolute majority

[/size]

Election 1956 Review: Patterson closing gap in polls, but as election returns come in reality sets in. Dan Thornton, the governor of Colorado, a republican becomes President defeating the incumbent democrat by a wide margin. Republicans retake the senate, and pick up seats in the house but still do poorly in the lower chamber of congress.

election '56 coverage

[GPORTER]

1958 Mid Term Election Results

Senate:

Republican: 55        Democrat: 43        50 needed for absolute majority

House of Representatives:

Republican: 104        Democrat: 322        213 needed for absolute majority

Senate Election Review. Democrats are shaken as another southern senate seat falls to the republicans. Spessard Holland looses in an upset to a little known republican in the state of Florida. John F Kennedy, Stuart Symmington, Mike Mansfield, and Barry Goldwater all walk away with easy victories in their senate elections. Bill Knowland, the looser on the republican side in 1948, looses his bid for another term to the senate. Knowland, once thought to have a strong shot at the presidency, retires from politics beginning in January 1959. Indiana and Wisconsin are close races where democrats prevail.

election '58

[GPORTER]

1960 Lead Up

President Thornton maintains a sixty-two percent job approval rating going into the year 1960. Thornton announces his running for a second term as President. Vice President Boggs would again join him on the republican ticket. Both were nominated easily at the republican national convention that summer.

Massachussetts senator John F Kennedy, despite the President's high approval rating, decided to seek the democratic nomination for President. Kennedy was nominated and took Kansas governor George Docking as his running mate. Both were nominated at the democratic national convention. Like twelve years ago, a third party jumped in to shake up the race and it came from a surprise choice. Hubert Horatio Humphrey of Minnesota announced his candidacy as an independent for President and Endicott Peabody, Harvard football star and democratic operative from Massachussetts took the spot as the vice presidential candidate on the ticket.

As if Kennedy was not already in enough trouble with the sound economy and Thornton's high approval ratings, the Humphrey third party candidacy all but sunk the democrat's hope of election. President Dan Thornton maintained a sixteen point lead in the polls, with Humphrey edging Kennedy out in second place, with the democrat two points behind them. The democrats said they didn't believe the polls but they braced themselves as election day approached.

[GPORTER]

Thornton Doing Very Well in Early Numbers.
Good evening and we are already underway here, President Thornton appears to be doing very well at least in the six states where polls have closed, lets look them over.

In Georgia, almost always votes democratic, will it this time? Can't say, its too close to call.

John F Kennedy vs Dan Thornton vs Hubert Humphrey
Georgia 12 electoral votes

Now here come some for the President. Kentucky, the bluegrass state, Humphrey put the Kennedy people in jeopardy here and it proves true. Thornton wins in Kentucky.

Dan Thornton
Kentucky 10 electoral votes

Same story in Indiana, big win for the republican there. President Thornton wins in the hoosier state.

Dan Thornton
Indiana 13 electoral votes

South Carolina. We can call that state too early to call at this hour between the candidates.

John F Kennedy vs Dan Thornton vs Hubert Humphrey
South Carolina 8 electoral votes

Vermont, its too close to call in Vermont.

John F Kennedy vs Dan Thornton vs Hubert Humphrey
Vermont 3 electoral votes

And in Virgnia, an easy state for republicans this year. President Dan Thornton wins in Virgnia.


Dan Thornton
Virgnia 12 electoral votes

We can now show you the electoral map as it stands at this hour.

Kennedy: 0        Thornton: 35        Humphrey: 0        269 needed to win

Back with our panel in a minute. Come back with us on what is predicted to be a historic night. Stay right here with us, we'll come back.

Kennedy: 0        Thornton: 35        Humphrey: 0        269 needed to win

election '60 coverage

[GPORTER]

Update on Senate Races. Election Panel.
Welcome back to our election night coverage, we have the electoral map here to show you. Polls just closed in two more states. I know we can make one projection. In Ohio, this is sometimes a battleground state, though it usually leans to the republican. Kennedy was already hurt there by the catholic issue and Humphrey only added to his problems. Thornton wins the buckeye state, and it is not very competetive out there.

Dan Thornton
Ohio 25 electoral votes

A state from earlier, South Carolina falls in the republican column tonight.

Dan Thornton
South Carolina 8 electoral votes

It appears that the two closest states tonight might be Vermont and Georgia. Vermont, between Thornton and Humphrey and Georgia between all three of them. That in itself is not good news for democrats.

We can also call West Virgnia, the state of West Virgnia goes for President Thornton tonight.

Dan Thornton
West Virgnia 8 electoral votes

And here comes our now updated electoral map.

Kennedy: 0        Thornton: 76        Humphrey: 0        269 needed to win

And we welcome Alaska and Hawaii to our election night coverage with this election. We are also covering the senate elections tonight. So far, we have some projections to tell you about.

First in Georgia. The veteran democratic senator Richard Russel Jr is returned to office, he was unopposed in that race.

Richard Russell Jr.
Georgia Senate Election

In Kentucky, our first democratic incumbent goes down to defeat tonight. John Cooper the republican challenger takes that seat from the now defeated democrat.

John Cooper
Kentucky Senate Election

Lets go over to West Virgnia where a high profile race, the incumbent democrat Jennings Randolph trying to turn back a challenge from republican Cecil Underwood. That race undecided at this hour.

Jennings Randolph vs Cecil Underwood
West Virgnia Senate Election

In Virgnia, incumbent democrat Willis Roberts is returned to office tonight. Roberts holds that seat for the democrats.

A Willis Roberts
Virgnia Senate Election

Strom Thurmond, the one who did so well as an independent candidate twelve years ago. Thurmond is returned to office, unopposed from South Carolina.

Strom Thurmond
South Carolina Senate Election

Can I interrupt here and go back to the presidential desk. Georgia has gone for Thornton. That will come as a surprise to a great many people.

Four years ago even in defeat former President Patterson still got more than seventy percent of the vote there, that shows you the whole story for tonight.

Dan Thornton
Georgia 12 electoral votes

Kennedy: 0        Thornton: 88        Humphrey: 0        269 needed to win

Did I interrupt you?

No, because we can go to our senate map now.

Republican: 42        Democrat: 27        50 needed for absolute majority

Doesn't look good for the democrats on either the president or the senate front.

No and I think that the Kennedy people are going to have a hard time accepting this result tonight. There is no love loss between John Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey, we can tell you that much.

Lets turn to those senate races. In some other times, pretty recently actually, we've seen some southern seats fall to the republicans. Any chance they will do that tonight?

It could happen, a lot of these democrats ran away from the presidential ticket especially in the south, because they have seen what can happen. Some were even unopposed and a few are winning tonight despite the tide, but I think we could see some defection in the south from the democrats to the republicans.

Back in a moment.

Kennedy: 0        Thornton: 88        Humphrey: 0        269 needed to win

election '60 coverage