1960: Nixon & Kennedy at Chicago's Midway Airport
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Negative trims from a story about Vice President Richard Nixon and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy crossing paths at Chicago Midway Airport on June 19, 1959. At the time, both were vying for their respective parties' nomination for the 1960 presidential race.
Credits
Frank Koza (filmmaker); John F. Kennedy (participant); Richard Nixon (participant)
Complete catalog record
Cfa collection: Frank Koza Collection
Notes: Journalists instruct Senator Kennedy and Vice President Nixon on where to stand. When a reporter begins asking Nixon a question, he tersely demands that he "wait just a second." The reporter says this is their first joint appearance as "the two leading candidates for 1960," to which both men laugh: "those are your words!" The camera operator switches lenses. The candidates are asked about Eisenhower's choice for Secretary of Commerce, Lewis Strauss, being rejected by the Senate earlier that day. Kennedy offers his thoughts, saying it was in the "national interest" for Strauss not to be confirmed. Nixon points out that Kennedy is holding a copy of Allen Drury's book Advise and Consent, released that year. Kennedy leaves the shot, and Nixon discusses his disappointment with the relationship between Congress and the Eisenhower administration. He is asked about Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's political ambitions, and about contenders for the 1960 Republican nomination. Out-of-order footage of Nixon and Kennedy descending the stairs from their airplane. Brief shot of Jackie Kennedy talking with Nixon. Silent footage of the two men talking to reporters. Shot of cars driving in front of a sign that says "World's Busiest Airport - CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT - Richard J. Daley, Mayor."
Subjects: Politicians; Political elections; Political campaigns
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Cfa elements: Negatives, 300 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/12230
Notes: Journalists instruct Senator Kennedy and Vice President Nixon on where to stand. When a reporter begins asking Nixon a question, he tersely demands that he "wait just a second." The reporter says this is their first joint appearance as "the two leading candidates for 1960," to which both men laugh: "those are your words!" The camera operator switches lenses. The candidates are asked about Eisenhower's choice for Secretary of Commerce, Lewis Strauss, being rejected by the Senate earlier that day. Kennedy offers his thoughts, saying it was in the "national interest" for Strauss not to be confirmed. Nixon points out that Kennedy is holding a copy of Allen Drury's book Advise and Consent, released that year. Kennedy leaves the shot, and Nixon discusses his disappointment with the relationship between Congress and the Eisenhower administration. He is asked about Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's political ambitions, and about contenders for the 1960 Republican nomination. Out-of-order footage of Nixon and Kennedy descending the stairs from their airplane. Brief shot of Jackie Kennedy talking with Nixon. Silent footage of the two men talking to reporters. Shot of cars driving in front of a sign that says "World's Busiest Airport - CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT - Richard J. Daley, Mayor."
Subjects: Politicians; Political elections; Political campaigns
Places: North America > United States > Illinois > Chicago
Language: English
Cfa elements: Negatives, 300 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/12230
Sources
- Chicago Film Archives · record ↗ — title, year, creator, length, format, color, sound, genre, description, credits, catalog record, video
Record added 2026-11-08 21:25:15