Yesterday in La Crosse

Nixon’s party throws a party, 59 years ago

Published

6 years ago

May 15, 2019

In the summer of 1960, Republicans nominated Richard Nixon for president at the party convention in Chicago. It was just two weeks after Democrats met in Los Angeles to choose a ticket of John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Republican Dwight Eisenhower had to retire after two terms, under the new 22nd Amendment. Nixon had a long list of potential running mates to select from, including his 1970’s vice president Gerald Ford, and Bush family patriarch Prescott Bush. He eventually chose former Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

An editorial in the La Crosse State college paper, the Racquet, had declared that Nixon was ‘no great talent,’ but he would probably win. The paper joked that if Catholic Kennedy won, then Pope John the 23rd would become secretary of state.

The Summer Olympics happened in Rome during August and September. They were the first Summer Games shown on TV in the U.S. by CBS. And American gold medal winners included runner Wilma Rudolph and boxer Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali…in 1960, yesterday in La Crosse.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.