Kent Barker Collection / The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

January 2, 1960

JFK ENTERS THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Senator Kennedy announces his candidacy for President of the United States.

Listen to an excerpt from the oral history interview with Jacques Lowe, the Kennedys' personal photographer for many years, by clicking "Find out more."

Image: Kennedy's presidential campaign button features his face on a background of red, white and blue stripes.

Find out more

A 'Viva Kennedy' campaign button

Full Screen

Back

A 'Viva Kennedy' campaign button

A round, pin-back, 1960 Viva Kennedy metal campaign button. Viva Kennedy clubs were organizations of Hispanic voters. The clubs originated in Texas in August 1960 after the Democratic national convention endorsed civil rights and desegregation, as well as support for legislation to protect migrants from discrimination. The front of the button is painted white with a blue sombrero hat silhouetted in the center. The words "Viva Kennedy" overlay the silhouette of the hat.

Object Details
Object title:

A 'Viva Kennedy' campaign button

Date:

1960

Terms:

1960 presidential election

Presidential campaign

Civil rights

Viva Kennedy

Chicago

Texas
Medium:

Metal

Dimensions:

Diameter: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)

Credit line:

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection

Object number:

2012.038.0001

Curatorial Note:

Ricardo Medrano, whose family was active with the Dallas chapter of the Viva Kennedy Club during the 1960 presidential election, remembered that voter registration drives were particularly important in the Hispanic community. "That was part of it," he said in a 2011 oral history interview, "to get out the vote... to register minorities to get out there and vote for Kennedy. He looked the part, he spoke the part, and he had a message for our community." - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator

Request License

Export PDF
File name:

-

File size:

-

Title:

-

Author:

-

Subject:

-

Keywords:

-

Creation Date:

-

Modification Date:

-

Creator:

-

PDF Producer:

-

PDF Version:

-

Page Count:

-

Page Size:

-

Fast Web View:

-
Choose an option Alt text (alternative text) helps when people can’t see the image or when it doesn’t load.
Aim for 1-2 sentences that describe the subject, setting, or actions.
This is used for ornamental images, like borders or watermarks.
Preparing document for printing…
0%

A 'Viva Kennedy' campaign button

A round, pin-back, 1960 Viva Kennedy metal campaign button. Viva Kennedy clubs were organizations of Hispanic voters. The clubs originated in Texas in August 1960 after the Democratic national convention endorsed civil rights and desegregation, as well as support for legislation to protect migrants from discrimination. The front of the button is painted white with a blue sombrero hat silhouetted in the center. The words "Viva Kennedy" overlay the silhouette of the hat.

Object Details
Object title:

A 'Viva Kennedy' campaign button

Date:

1960

Terms:

1960 presidential election

Presidential campaign

Civil rights

Viva Kennedy

Chicago

Texas

Medium:

Metal

Dimensions:

Diameter: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)

Credit line:

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Collection

Object number:

2012.038.0001

Curatorial Note:

Ricardo Medrano, whose family was active with the Dallas chapter of the Viva Kennedy Club during the 1960 presidential election, remembered that voter registration drives were particularly important in the Hispanic community. "That was part of it," he said in a 2011 oral history interview, "to get out the vote... to register minorities to get out there and vote for Kennedy. He looked the part, he spoke the part, and he had a message for our community." - Stephen Fagin, Associate Curator

Related objects

Richard Nixon campaign button

1960

"Triumfa Con Kennedy" campaign pin

1960

Kennedy campaign button

1960

John F. Kennedy 1960 campaign button

1960

ACCEPT COOKIES?

This website uses cookies. Some are essential, while others help us improve your experience. You may opt-in by clicking accept or opt-out by clicking deny. By using our site you are accepting our privacy policy.