November 8, 1960
John F. Kennedy was narrowly elected president over opponent Richard Nixon. A significant factor in Kennedy's victory was his decision to publicize widely the story about his and his brother's (RFK) success in getting MLK released from jail after he participated in a Civil Rights demonstration in Atlanta. Many northern blacks subsequently voted for Kennedy because of his perceived commitment to civil rights.
To hear John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, see:
http://www.webcorp.com/civilrights/jfkinaug.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/specials/elections/1960/index.html