| Summary: | In 1960, John F. Kennedy became the first Irish Roman Catholic to be elected president of the United States of America, defeating Vice President Richard M. Nixon in what was up to that time the closest presidential race in American history. The debate over Kennedys religion was a major factor during the campaign, and included both anti-Kennedy/anti-Catholic statements by major religious figures and Kennedy vigorously defending his belief in the separation of church and state. This study addresses how two Irish newspapers, the Irish Independent and The Irish Times, covered the Kennedy/Nixon campaign, with particular attention being paid to coverage of both the religious debate and Kennedys cultural ties with Ireland. The implications of this qualitative analysis can contribute to the bodies of knowledge of the religious debate in the 1960 election, cultural affinity displayed by newspapers with historically different readerships and editorial stances, and the history of Irish journalism.
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