1960: The Making of the President (2007) Board Game

1960: The Making of the President is a board game that simulates the 1960 United States presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. Designed by Christian Leonhard and Jason Matthews, the game was released in 2007 by GMT Games. The game has received critical acclaim for its historical accuracy and strategic depth.

Game Components of 1960: The Making of the President

22″x34″ mounted game board

Deck of 109 playing cards

Two countersheets

One Debate board

Rulebook

Over 170 wooden pieces

One fabric bag

Issues tiles

Campaign deck

Endorsements deck

Momentum and event tokens

Candidate tokens and colored cubes.

How To Setup 1960: The Making of the President

To set up the game, place the game board in the center, which features a map of the United States divided into four main regions. Each state is marked with its silhouette and initial support cubes for each candidate. Players choose their side, collecting the corresponding colored cubes, momentum tokens, and their candidate’s card. The campaign deck and endorsements deck are shuffled and placed beside the board. The issues tiles are set on the issues track, and the political capital bag is filled with cubes from both players. The debate board is set aside for later use.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card-Driven System: Players use cards to perform actions, such as playing events, using campaign points, or gaining rest.

Campaign Points (CPs): Used to influence states, media, and debate issues.

Rest Cubes: Balance the use of campaign points by adding or removing cubes from the bag.

Issues Track: Simplified concept similar to the Space Race track in Twilight Struggle.

Debates: Special subsystem handling the televised debates.

Momentum Tokens: Allow players to trigger events or prevent opponents from doing so.

Objective: The goal is to capture the most electoral votes by influencing states and winning the debates.

Player Experience

Playing **1960: The Making of the President** involves strategic card play and resource management. Players must balance their campaign efforts across different regions of the U.S., manage their media presence, and prepare for debates. The game is known for its thematic depth, capturing the essence of the 1960 presidential election with historical events and issues. However, it has been noted that the game simplifies some mechanics from its precursor, Twilight Struggle, which can reduce the tension and complexity of the gameplay.

Pros

Thematic Depth: Richly themed around the 1960 U.S. presidential election.

Strategic Card Play: Engaging card-driven system with balanced campaign points and rest cubes.

Historical Accuracy: Includes significant events and issues of the time, such as the ‘Catholic question’ and Nixon’s lazy shave.

Components and Design: Well-done components and graphic design, particularly in the GMT edition.

Cons

Overly Simplified: Simplifications from Twilight Struggle reduce game tension and complexity.

High Price Point: The game is considered expensive, priced at $90.00.

Ease of Movement: Players can travel across the board too easily, making the game feel less dynamic.

Debate Mechanics: The debates subsystem can feel like a game-within-a-game with too many rules.

Personal Thoughts on 1960: The Making of the President

**1960: The Making of the President** is a strong offering for fans of strategic card games and those interested in U.S. presidential history. While it shares DNA with the more complex Twilight Struggle, it is designed to be more accessible and quicker to play. However, this accessibility comes at the cost of some complexity and tension. It is ideal for players looking for a thematic and strategic game without the intense decision-making of its more complex sibling. Despite its weaknesses, it remains a fun and engaging game that is worth playing, especially for those who appreciate the history and politics of the 1960 election.

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