The Making of the President, 1964

Theodore H. White was an American journalist and historian celebrated for his insightful accounts of presidential elections. His most notable works, The Making of the President, 1960 and The Making of the President, 1964, are considered standard histories of these campaigns. White's books are characterized by their suspenseful narratives that juxtapose events and portray politicians as complex personalities rather than mere symbols.1

The Making of the President, 1964 specifically details the 1964 U.S. presidential election, a landslide victory for Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson over Republican Barry Goldwater. This election was significantly influenced by the recent assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which began to shift the political landscape of the Solid South. White's journalistic style, which offered an intimate look at the political process, greatly influenced campaign coverage.21