1960: Nixon & Kennedy at Chicago's Midway Airport

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Together are you gentlemen all set already frankly mr.

Vice president wait just wait just like a Bill this is your first giant appearance the two leading candidates for 1960 those are your words the last See neither the senator or I have become candidates as yet is that right? On which ticket on the Republican ticket Well, I'd never indulge in that game of trying to nominate the candidate of the opposition first of all, I don't think people would take it at face value and Second, I think they have a right to select the man that they think would best represent their party I'm sure that as far as the those who opposed Secretary straws are concerned that they did so because of a Contrary belief a belief that I respect but one that I also respectfully disagree with Senator Kennedy, why do you think that the nomination of Louis straws aroused so much Bitterness in the Senate led to his defeat The thing that doesn't happen very often why do you think it happened in this case and why did you and so many other? Democrats vote against him Because we felt that it was in the best interest of the country Based on a rather lengthy hearing and based on a lengthy debate in the Senate that it was in the national interest that Mr.

Straws not be confirmed and We took that decision with great deliberation but we do have a responsibility under the Constitution to advise and consent and We could not in this case I shared the majority opinion that Incidentally, I'd like to point out that that's the book the senator's been reading the new one by Alan Drury on advice and consent Oh, yeah It's too early to judge the record But up to this time it has been very disappointing As far as the accomplishments are of the Congress are concerned I would add one other thing that Sir between the administration and the Congress no I believe that although no, I do not although tempers are played as they always are when issues of great controversy arise When the interests of the country are concerned on future issues I am confident that the Congress and the president will find a formula for Putting the national interest above partisan interest and that will particularly be the case I believe in the field of foreign policy.

I do not anticipate that in the foreign policy area We well end up with an impasse as you have described it between the president and the Senate Despite what happened on the straws game vice president.

Do you think that Senator Johnson did this with an eye for gaining liberal support for his presidential ambitions? Oh, I wouldn't want to impute any motives to Senator Johnson.

I Have great respect for his leadership abilities.

I have never questioned his motives.

I would only say this Whether it will help his ambitions if he has them I think is most questionable Because as I've indicated before I think the people of the United States elected President Eisenhower president of the country they did so by an overwhelming majority All the polls show that they overwhelmingly support him today And I think they think he's entitled to have the men that he selects in his cabinet unless the Senate finds that those men have Something in their background on their character which completely disqualifies them from public service and certainly I didn't see anything of that sort arise Why were the Republicans taken so unaware? I? The fact the Republic is not having enough votes and as I should point out that We did get all of our votes there because senator young although He was not there obtained a pair from senator Mansfield and in this case may I say that was a very generous Move by senator Mansfield and typical of what we have learned to expect from him We don't consider this a blow to the Eisenhower prestige as some say No, I do not I think that Actually the country and of course, I am a little prejudiced perhaps on this the country is going to look upon the straws Rejection as Partisan politics and I think they are going to for that reason Not consider it a blow to the president in the final analysis it may prove to be a boon to the president in in Support for him because people think that the Senate is mistreated I believe it is too early to Excuse me did he want to cut it off? I believe that it is too early to Determine who the candidate should be for 1960.

I've already indicated on many occasions that if this is not the time to Launch a campaign or to make a decision with regard to You You You You

Identifier

F.2012-03-0632

Date Of Production

June 19 1959

Abstract

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.

Description

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."

Run Time

0:08:24

Format

16mm

Extent

300 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Negatives

Genre

Journalism
Political

Form

Outtakes

Subject

Politicians
Political elections
Political campaigns

Related Collections

SUBSERIES I: Politics & Government

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago

Main Credits

Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers

Kennedy, John F. (is participant)

Nixon, Richard (is participant)

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