Our series examining an Image of the Week from the photographic files, by Kevin Warstadt, Edward Connery Lathem ’51 Digital Library Fellow.

JFK at Dartmouth, March 6, 1960

John F. Kennedy came to Dartmouth in March 1960 during his presidential campaign. He can be seen here en route to Dartmouth Hall, where he gave a speech on President Eisenhower’s tour of South America in February of that year. Of the visit, Kennedy’s spokesperson said that the Senator was “looking forward to being at Dartmouth and meeting students and townspeople even though he is a Harvard man.”

Kennedy suffered from a number of health problems throughout his life, including chronic lower back pain. In this image, one can make out the signs of that affliction.

Eight months later, he would defeat Richard Nixon in the 44th quadrennial presidential election, with running mate Lyndon B. Johnson.