From March 8 to June 7, 1960, voters of the Republican Party elected delegates to the 1960 Republican National Convention, in part to choose the party nominee for president in the 1960 United States presidential election.
Incumbent vice president Richard Nixon faced no formidable opposition for the nomination. There were significant efforts by liberals to draft New York governor Nelson Rockefeller as a candidate. Although Rockefeller embarked on a national speaking tour and received some write-in votes in primary elections, he did not declare a campaign for the presidency, and Nixon swept the primaries without difficulty. Rockefeller endorsed Nixon after struggling in the polls and extracting compromises on the party platform.
The 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois from July 25 to 28. Nixon was nominated for president and United Nations ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge was nominated for vice president. Nixon and Lodge were defeated in the general election by the Democratic Party ticket of Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy and Texas senator Lyndon B. Johnson.
Candidates The following political leaders were candidates for the 1960 Republican presidential nomination:
Nominee CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaign Withdrawal datePopular voteContests won Running mateRichard NixonVice President of the United States(1953–1961)California(Campaign)Secured nomination: July 28, 19604,975,938(86.6%)11 Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.
Other major candidates These candidates participated in multiple state primaries or were included in multiple major national polls. CandidateMost recent officeHome stateCampaign Withdrawal dateNelson RockefellerGovernor ofNew York(1959–1973)New York(Campaign)Declined draft: December 26, 1959Revoked declination: June 8, 1960
Favorite sons The following candidates ran only in their home state's primary or caucus for the purpose of controlling its delegate slate at the convention and did not appear to be considered national candidates by the media.
Former U.S. senator George H. Bender of Ohio State senator James M. Lloyd of South Dakota Governor Cecil H. Underwood of West Virginia
Declined to run The following persons were listed in two or more major national polls or were the subject of media speculation surrounding their potential candidacy, but declined to actively seek the nomination.
Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby of Texas Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. of Massachusetts Former President Herbert Hoover of California
Polling
National polling Poll sourcePublicationGallupJuly 19576%48%–GallupOct. 19577%48%–GallupJan. 19584%64%–GallupJan. 19596%56%27%GallupMar. 19598%56%23%GallupApr. 195910%58%17%GallupMay 19596%63%20%GallupJune 195911%61%18%GallupJuly 19595%65%19%GallupAug. 19594%68%18%GallupOct. 19596%67%19%GallupNov. 19594%66%19%GallupJan. 19606%84%–GallupMay 19602%75%13%GallupJuly 19604%75%12%
Statewide contests by winner + Richard M. Nixon George H. Bender Cecil Underwood James M. Lloyd Nelson Rockefeller Unpledged March 8 New Hampshire 89.28% - - - 3.76% - April 5 Wisconsin 100% - - - - - April 12 Illinois 99.94% - - - - - April 19 New Jersey - - - - - 100% April 26 Massachusetts 85.96% - - - 6.58% - April 26 Pennsylvania 98.15% - - - 1.27% - May 1 Washington, D.C. - - - - - 100% May 3 Indiana 95.40% - - - - - May 3 Ohio 70.48% 29.52% - - - - May 10 Nebraska 93.82% 0% 0% 0% 2.56% 0% May 10 West Virginia - - 100% - - - May 20 Oregon 93.06% - - - 4.10% - May 24 Florida 100% - - - - - June 7 California 100% - - - - - June 7 South Dakota - - - 100% - -
Italics - Write-In Vote
Total popular vote results
Primaries total popular vote results Richard M. Nixon - 4,975,938 (86.63%) George H. Bender - 211,090 (3.68%) Unpledged - 314,234 (5.47%) Cecil Underwood - 123,756 (2.16%) James M. Lloyd - 48,461 (0.84%) Nelson Rockefeller - 30,639 (0.53%) Others - 39,516 (0.69%)
See also 1960 Democratic Party presidential primaries
References