John F. Kennedy’s suitcase used during the 1960 Presidential primaries and election

JFK prepared for a Presidential run long before he made his formal announcement of candidacy. He traveled throughout the United States, acquainting himself with the voters and local Democratic Party leaders in every region.

Among the challenges he faced as a candidate was an entrenched bias against Catholics and a perception that, at age 42, he was too young and inexperienced for the nation’s highest office. When he did make a formal announcement on January 2, 1960, he asserted his qualifications, citing his travels across the country, his 18 years of public service—in the military during World War II and in the Congress—and his international travels. From these experiences, he said, “I have developed an image of America as fulfilling a noble and historic role as the defender of freedom in a time of maximum peril—and of the American people as confident, courageous and persevering. It is with this image that I begin this campaign.”