The Making of the President 1960, written by journalist Theodore H. White and published by Atheneum Publishers in 1961,[1] is a book that recounts and analyzes the 1960 election in which John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States.

The book traces the 1960 campaign from the primaries (in which Kennedy faced Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey and Missouri Senator Stuart Symington) to the conclusion of the general election contest against Richard Nixon.

Much of the narrative is written in an almost novelistic style, describing politicians' looks, voices and personalities; but it also contains thought-provoking discussions of various trends in American life and politics.

The Making of the President 1960 was a huge success, staying on the best-seller list for more than 40 weeks.

[3] Its literary-journalistic approach brought a dramatic point of view on the world of politics and its strategies, victories and defeats.