Ask Joe Sixpack
1960 was an election year and as the San Jose Ford News puts it, “Two vigorous young men are fighting for the presidency.” Those two men were Senator John Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon.
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For a while, the San Jose Ford News featured the “As I See It” column, a “man in the street” type piece that asked serious questions (should California keep or abolish the death penalty?) and light ones (Have you finished your Christmas shopping?) and in the August 1960 issue asked employees on the assembly line and throughout the plant what they thought would be the main issues that would decide the election in November.
Foreign policy was on everyone’s mind, including the capture of United States spy Francis Gary Powers by the Soviets, and the need for the United Nations. Civil Rights was also a concern for the employees. “I personally think the Republicans have the best chance to do something effective about civil rights…The Democratic Party is split, with the Dixiecrats opposed to civil rights activity.” Times, and Parties, change.
