Kane County Court House – Fox Valley – Central Kane
Kane County in 1960 was Republican territory. The St. Charles Chronicle noted a big Nixon rally at the Kane County Fairgrounds, where one of the debates was televised on a large screen. Even after the election, the newspaper focused on how Nixon had defeated Kennedy locally, with all 13 precincts in St. Charles going for the Nixon-Lodge ticket. All but nine counties in Illinois went for Nixon.
Still, Kennedy’s drive through the Fox Valley drew crowds.
Kennedy made scheduled stops to speak at Baker Memorial Park in St. Charles and at the Kane County Courthouse in Geneva. The crowd lining Batavia Avenue in Batavia was so large, he made an impromptu stop across from the old Batavia High School near Wilson Street. "It is not a county that has been known for its Democratic majorities, but … I do appreciate your coming out today," he told the crowd, according to a published transcript of his speeches kept at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston.
St. Charles resident Bernie Deutsch got to shake Kennedy’s hand as the motorcade drove south on Route 31 in Batavia.
"Of course I’m Catholic, so we’re proud of him. We were very proud that he ran," said Deutsch, who has a son who is a monsignor. He also recalled Kennedy’s sense of humor. But it didn’t turn him in to a party loyalist.
"I think it was the last time we voted for a Democrat," Deutsch said.
Posted by Meridith112 on 2015-05-13 13:23:10
Tagged: , Plaque , Sign , Memorial , Green , President , 35thPresident , KaneCounty , Geneva , IL , Illinois , USA , American , America , 1960 , October , 10-25-1960 , October-25-1960 , Bronze , UnitedStatesOfAmerica , Fall , 2014 , September , Nikon , NikonD7000 , Nikon24-85 , JFK , Kennedy , JohnFitzgeraldKennedy , FoxValley , Democrat , Catholic , Democratic , JohnKennedy , Patina
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