1960: The Making of the President
“Sometimes the history of a nation can be defined by the relationship between two individuals. The Election of 1960 is the story of two men, John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. One is the scion of a wealthy, politically powerful family from New England. The other is the son of a Quaker grocer in Whittier, California. While they belong to opposing political parties, they start out as friends. The complex development of that friendship, however, would shape a pivotal presidential election and cast a long shadow over American history for the remainder of the 20th century.
“In 1960: The Making of the President, you take on the role of one of these great protagonists vying for the right to lead his country into the heart of the Cold War. However, it is not just foreign policy that poses a challenge to American leadership; this is also an era of great social turmoil and progress. As the United States continues to build upon the promise of its founding, candidates must contend with the question of civil rights and balance their positions on social justice against the need for valuable Southern electoral votes. Of course, the ever-present issue of the economy also rears its ugly head, and both Nixon and Kennedy will compete to be the candidate with the voters’ pocket books in mind.
“The contest is fought out on an electoral map of the United States as it stood in 1960—a map where Louisiana and Florida share the same number of electoral votes, as do California and Pennsylvania. Using a card-driven game system, all the major events which shaped the campaign are represented: Nixon’s lazy shave, President Eisenhower’s late endorsement, and the ‘Catholic question’ are all included as specific event cards. The famous televised debates and final election day push are each handled with their own subsystems. Candidates vie to capture each state’s electoral votes using campaign points in the four different regions of the country. At the same time, they must build momentum by dominating the issues of the day and attempt to gain control of the airwaves.
“As with any election campaign, the challenge is to adapt your game plan as the ground shifts out from under you. There are never enough resources or time to do everything, but you need to make the tough calls to propel yourself into the White House. This fast-playing strategy game for two players challenges you to run for the most powerful elective office in the world, at one of its most unique crossroads. Will you recreate history, or rewrite it? 1960: The Making of the President provides you the opportunity to do both.”
All elections are turning points, but the presidential election of 1960 holds a special place in American history. The 1950s had been a period of unparalleled economic growth and US global power. Richard Nixon served as President Eisenhower’s Vice President through most of the period. Nixon’s humble origins gave him a common touch that appealed to the small town, idyllic America encompassed by the spirit of the 1950s. John F. Kennedy, was Nixon’s mirror image: charming, Harvard educated and the scion of an American political dynasty. Kennedy challenged Americans to confront the uncertainties and tumult that were already emerging in 1960. He set his vision not in the past, but on new frontiers.
In 1960: The Making of the President, you take on the role of one of these great protagonists vying to lead America through an era of turbulent change. The candidates must contend with all the great issues of the day, from the Cold War to civil rights to voters’ pocket books. This is an election that will turn on positioning and momentum. The contest is fought on an electoral map of the United States as it stood in 1960. Using a card-driven game system, all the major events which shaped the campaign are represented: Nixon’s lazy shave, President Eisenhower’s late endorsement, and the ‘Catholic question’ are all specific event cards. The famous televised debates are also an important component of gameplay.
As with a real election campaign, the challenge is to adapt your game plan as the ground shifts out from under you. There are never enough resources or time to do everything, but you need to make the tough calls to propel yourself into the White House. This fast-playing strategy game for two players challenges you to relive the most significant political contest of the Twentieth Century. Will you recreate history, or rewrite it? 1960: The Making of the President provides you the opportunity to do both
CHANGES TO SECOND PRINTING
1) Tricky Dick: The text: “No rest cubes are gained for the retrieved card.” was added to the end.
2) New Nixon: Debate icon was changed from Civil Rights to Economy.
3) Henry Luce: “any region” was changed to “any single region”.
The board got the enlarged electoral values
The rules got:
updated cover 2nd edition tag
all board shots showing electoral values
Pages:
4) reference to “Get Out The Vote” phase removed, bracketed text removed from Support Checks paragraph.
13) Gathering Momentum section revised to deal with possible ineligible cards for Campaign Strategy
14) “two or more cards” replaces “two cards”
15) instruction to discard Debate Event cards (under Debate Events) removed
16) “Each player may resolve their cards in any order desired.” added to Campaign Strategy section
17) Unpledged Electors section reworded, correct Nixon’s Pledge illustration added
20 more cubes were added to the game.
GAME BOARD – 2nd printing
Contents: 1 Game board, 108 cards, 170 wooden support cubes, 2 Candidate pawns, 50 State seals, 12 Momentum markers, 8 Endorement markers, 3 Issues marker, 2 wooden Turn/Phase cubes
No. of players: 2
Ages: 12+
Playing time: 90 minutes
Price: $49.99
Stock code: ZMG 7019
SAMPLE CARDS
~ Z-Man Games
No rules introduction here – other people have done that.
Review
DAR
Latest posts by calandale (see all)
- China (Video Review) - May 19, 2013
- Facts in Five – Quick Hit - May 18, 2013
- Hexica (Video Review) - May 16, 2013
- Scrabble – a quick hit - May 14, 2013
Leave your response!