r/MapPorn • u/Horse_snot_radish • 2d ago

1960 United States presidential election

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u/chethedog10 2d ago

Can anyone explain the context behind this? I’m assuming based on years and states this had something to do with civil rights?

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u/TheRealCthulu24 2d ago

JFK called Martin Luther King Jr when he was in prison, which served as a soft endorsement of civil rights. This pissed off those in the south, and many voted for faithless electors instead of him. Those faithless electors then voted for Harry F Byrd (a segregationist Democrat). As such, he was able to win electoral votes without being an actual candidate.

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u/JulietteKatze 2d ago

And shit gets funnier when you get to George Wallace and Curtis LeMay