This historical-critical investigation traces John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign from behind-the-scenes strategy sessions to formal speech making. The making and projecting of images are examined with focus on the methods by which an image was purposely created and conveyed to the public. Primary source material, largely from the John F. Kennedy Library, included unpublished, unedited letters, memoranda, briefing and position papers, recorded interviews, minutes of meetings, policy studies, and other types of personal and interoffice communication. / The investigation analyzes Kennedy's potential image liabilities: his age, his health, his wealth, his religion, and his lack of executive experience. How these problems were managed is explored with emphasis on Kennedy's most critical liability--his religion. The religious charges leveled against Kennedy found in periodical articles and anti-Catholic hate literature are examined. The various methods that local, state, and national organizations used to handle the "religious issue" are described. / The Community Relations Committee, an ad hoc group formed to combat the religious issue, is investigated and an assessment is made of the committee's effectiveness. Also included is an examination of the declarations and resolutions drafted by various Protestant denominations in response to the inflamed religious issue. / Kennedy's major address on religion was given to the September 12, 1960, Greater Houston Ministerial Association. The September 7 statement issued by the National Conference of Citizens for Religious Freedom acted as a chief motivating influence for Kennedy's accepting the Houston invitation. The statement, released by a group of prominent Protestant ministers, is analyzed using Kenneth Burke's dramatistic theories. Conclusions are reached regarding the impact that the declaration had nationally. / Kennedy's Houston speech and the interrogation period that followed are analyzed using Kenneth Burke's pentad as a rhetorical tool. The analysis identifies rhetorical strategies and evaluates their effectiveness. Conclusions are reached on how Kennedy and his advisers diffused and neutralized the religious factor as an acceptable campaign issue. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-10, Section: A, page: 2924. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75186 |
| Contributors | ARNETT, NANCY CAROL., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 348 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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