Constructing Camelot: John F. Kennedy and
the 1946 Massachusetts Special Congressional
Election
Jamie Engel Department of Political Science Boston University
Thesis
Campaign Strategy
The1946JohnF.Kennedycongressionalcampaign 1.  Decentralizedcampaignmodel
•  Neighborhoodsecretariesinsteadofone
wassuccessfulbecauseoftheuniqueorganizaAon,
campaignmanager
image,andopportuneAmingofthecongressional
•  Broadstrategysetbycampaignadvisors
race.ByobtainingabeDerunderstandingofthe
butcustomizedbywardsecretariesin
people,thestories,andthenuancesoftheEleventh
ordertomaximizerecepAonby
CongressionalDistrict,Kennedywasabletoalterhis
consAtuents
campaignapproachandwintheelecAon.
2.  Strategyofcominginsecond
•  Twomajoropponentswerefromtwo
largepartsofdistrictandmanyofthe
•  JohnF.KennedyPresidenAalLibrary
neighborhoodsweredominatedby
•  Pre-PresidenAalPapers
hometowncandidates
•  DavidF.PowersPersonalPapers
•  Kennedystrategywastogarnerenough
•  OralHistories
votestocomeinsecondineach
•  LibraryofCongress
neighborhoodwhichwouldwinhimthe
elecAon
3.  Image
Ward1:EastBoston
•  Perpetuateimageofyouthfulveteran
Ward2:Charlestown
whounderstandstheplightofthe
Ward3:TheNorthEnd
workingman
Ward22:Brighton&parts
•  CampaignmoDo:“TheNewGeneraAon
ofCambridge
OffersaLeader”
Wards1,2,3:Somerville
4.  Re-toolcampaignacAviAes
•  HouseParAes/KennedyTeas
•  TwoMajoropponents:
•  Knockoneverydoor
1.  MikeNeville
2.  JohnCroDer
Sources
The Eleventh District
Conclusions
•  KennedyuAlized
manydifferent
techniquestopropel
Housing
himselfintocongress
•  Immediatehousingforveterans
•  Capitalizedonthe
•  Long-termhousingforhomeless
changingpoliAcal
PriceControl
viewsofthenaAon
•  AlignedwithprominentDemocrats
•  Kennedywaselected
(EleanorRoosevelt)toconAnueprice
duringoneofthe
control
largestRepublican
NaAonalHealth
sweepsduringthe
•  Adequatecareforall
thcentury
20
Labor
•  Employedthese
•  Livingminimumwage,goodworking
strategiesin
condiAons,reasonableworkinghours
subsequent
ForeignPolicy
campaigns
•  AvoidwaratallcostsandstrengthenUN
Campaign Platform
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5.