Final answer:
The 1960 election, with John F. Kennedy's narrow victory over Richard Nixon, was the closest presidential contest since the election of 1888.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 1960 presidential election is remembered as an extremely close contest, with John F. Kennedy narrowly defeating Richard Nixon. Kennedy secured his position in the White House by a slim margin of just 118,550 popular votes, which was made possible by significant urban support. Observers often regard this election as the tightest electoral race since 1888. In that year, Benjamin Harrison won the presidency despite losing the popular vote to Grover Cleveland. What made the 1960 election stand out was not only its closeness but also its several historical firsts, such as Kennedy being the youngest elected president and the first Roman Catholic.
The election was marked by factors including emerging television influence, addressing the suburban population, and the issues of religion and civil rights. Kennedy's team, recognizing the impact of the new media landscape, effectively utilized television, which played a crucial role in gaining public appeal. This was significant as the 1960 election is often cited as ushering in 'the age of television' in American politics.
Despite Kennedy's lack of appeal among some groups due to his Catholic faith and liberal stances, strategically adding Lyndon B. Johnson to the ticket helped consolidate the southern vote. This careful balancing of regional and ideological interests, along with the charismatic use of television, culminated in a victory marked both by its narrowness and historical significance.