American politics is a high-stakes, winner-takes-all game. 1960: The Making of the President transports players back to a pivotal moment in history; the race for the White House between Nixon and Kennedy. It was originally published in 2007 by Z-Man Games, and later re-released by GMT Games. It’s the GMT edition that I am reviewing. I bought my own copy; no review copy was provided. I’ve played it a lot since then.
One of GMT’s card-driven games, 1960 does share something of a pedigree with Washington’s War and Twilight Struggle. Instead of the overt war or Washington’s War and the cold war, as depicted in Twilight Struggle, this game puts you in the political battle between Kennedy and Nixon in the 1960 US presidential election. As the campaign unfolds over nine intense turns, players strategise, manoeuvre, and vie for electoral votes. Yes, friends, this game has us engage with that most contentious of political constructs; the electoral college.
Let’s dive into the game’s mechanics, theme, and standout features, starting with the heart of the game; the dueling candidates, Nixon and Kennedy. One player embodies the conservative Nixon, while the other steps into the charismatic shoes of JFK. Their goal? To secure the presidency by winning key states, managing momentum, and outmaneuvering their opponent.
The game unfolds across nine turns, each representing a critical phase of the campaign. In seven of these turns, players play cards – each with a “CP” value – to either activate events or gain influence in states. The clever twist? Using CP also allows opponents to trigger events from the card text, adding tension and strategic depth.
Uncertainty and chance is factored in via support checks. When required (say, during campaigning), players draw colored cubes from an opaque bag. The bag is filled as a cost of playing certain cards. Pulling their own color signifies success. This mechanic balances weaker cards, rewarding long-term planning over immediate gains. Though, of course, there is definitely still a place for short-term thinking, especially if it can later be consolidated.
Momentum, earned through positioning on issues or event cards, plays a pivotal role. One momentum triggers an opponent’s event, while two preemptively block it. This delicate dance of timing and momentum adds layers of decision-making, forcing players to weigh risks and rewards.
The sixth and ninth turns diverge from the card-driven routine. Debates see players using cards from their “campaign strategy” pile to win state influence. Election Day tallies electoral votes, determining the ultimate winner. These climactic moments mirror the real-life drama of the 1960 election.
The game captures the essence of the Nixon-Kennedy clash through the thematic and historically-themed events. Nixon’s poor shaving during televised debates, the iconic Nixon/Khrushchev photo; these historical details enrich the experience. Whether you’re a history buff or a board game enthusiast, 1960 immerses you in the era.
The production values are also excellent. This has not always been true of GMT Games’ various titles, but they have definitely been improving in recent years. The mounted board is both attractive and practical. The cards are of decent stock. Chits and tokens are all readable and fit well with the overall theme. It’s a really pretty game, especially by GMT standards.
You know, I just love this game. It’s challenging and can be a bit of a thinker, but it’s not overly complicated. It can be really swingy. In my last game, my opponent did a really good job as JFK of really locking down the East and the South, but I, as Nixon, steadfastly built first support in the West and Midwest. It paid off. I went with a last-ditch push, right at the end, to take a couple of southern states to guarantee my win. It was the sort of move that wouldn’t have been sustainable, but a cheeky, quick push at the right time, supported by media in the region, sealed a firm victory. It was satisfying.
1960: The Making of the President combines historical flavour, strategic depth, and thematic richness. As you shuffle cards, build and spend momentum, and vie for electoral dominance, you’ll feel the weight of history on your shoulders. So, get on that campaign trail, choose your candidate, and rewrite history; one card at a time.
I suppose the timing is also pretty appropriate as we hurtle to another consequential US election.
No Rerolls 
Yay! Happy to see this review. Since it’s always been at the top of my Top 25 lists, I just never felt the need.
But maybe I should anyway, just to outline my thoughts.
Great review!
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That kind of why I did it. I’d like to be able to link to reviews from my lists.
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