I didn’t originally plan to send this one next but I finished the write up so without much of a further-a-do.
For Massachusetts, as with America as a whole, 1964 was a year of surprises. A senate election that had begun as a Kennedy coronation -though one with an uncommonly strong independent in the mix- quickly morphed into an open and downright chaotic race.
John F. Kennedy had been a young, largely popular and nationally prominent two term senator. Coming to national notoriety for his Kefauverian primary campaigns, youth, good looks and the mutual loathing between his family and President Lyndon B. Johnson. Kennedy had quickly become an icon for Massachusetts, frequent standard bearer of the northern and Hawkish wings of the Democratic party and a leading figure for American Catholics, Irish in particular.
With his stardom still growing steadily Kennedy had decided to seek the nomination once more by means of a primary challenge -one that would fiercely critique Johnson’s domestic and international policy alongside his corruption. Ironically, emulating his arch-rival, he sought to contest his hone senate seat simultaneously -as a failsafe of sorts.
In the lead up both campaigns seemed in Kennedy’s favour, with primary after primary going his way while polls back in Massachusetts saw him consistently riding in the high 60s to mid 70s. However both campaigns weren’t without their cracks. In the primaries Kennedy struggled to break out of the catholic demographic, seemingly cursed to repeat the same mistakes that had cost him 60, while back home Kennedy’s absentee campaigning provided the perfect ammunition for his opponents.
The dynamic between Kennedy’s opponents, Hughes and Lodge, was quite notable for the time -with Hughes, an independent, being seen as the true anti-Kennedy in the race. After all the Senator was hawkish even for the era, especially in the nuclear field, so what better suited opponent than the firmly anti-Nuclear, anti-Cold War, Wallace (Henry) supporter could there have been?
In contrast a lot could be said of the consensus Lodge and Kennedy held on most issues, both moderate liberals, dynastic politicians from rich families and were perceived to be the puppets of their fathers. In light of this Hughes was treated seriously as a candidate, with Lodge even holding debates with him -though Kennedy remained aloof. With Kennedy in the 70s and Hughes stable in the early 20s, Lodge lagged far behind the both of them -picking up the scraps as many would put it.
None of this would last however, Kennedy would withdraw late from both races as his Addison’s disease grew too severe to ignore -remaining in the seat for the time being to avoid the appointment of Lodge by the then governor John Volpe, which might’ve given him the benefit of incumbency. Kennedy’s health would render him unable to fulfil even his most basic senatorial duties.
In Kennedy’s absence the Democratic party would, narrowly, chose his brother Robert as a last minute replacement. John’s lack of resignation and the nomination of his brother would sour the soon to be late Senator’s reputation, sowing the seeds for the modern day perception of the Kennedy’s as a dynasty of rich nepotists, desperate to cling onto power. Robert did, however, have his advantages. He alone could go all in on sympathy for Kennedy, his youth, charm and relation to the Senator also motivated him to market himself as a successor to Kennedy’s legacy, be it in name, personality or policy.
It wouldn’t be enough.
While Robert would manage to retain a significant amount of his brother’s support, in the end he split it fairly evenly with Lodge, with the laters original supporters allowed him to win out over Kennedy. In the end he simply couldn’t live up to his brother, being seen more often as a nepotistic knockoff than anything. It didn’t help that the soon to be late Senator’s overwhelming support had stemmed in good part from his high profile work in office, something which didn’t carry over to Robert.
The real breakout success of the election was Hughes, while he hadn’t won, nor come second like some had originally thought, he still demonstrated the popularity of his policies and preformed abnormally well for a third party issue candidate -perhaps, if he played his cards well, there might be a successful political career in sight for him yet.