Page "United States presidential election, 1960" Paragraph 18

Kennedy was initially dogged by suggestions from some Democratic Party elders ( such as former President Harry S. Truman, who was supporting Symington ) that he was too youthful and inexperienced to be president ; these critics suggested that he should agree to be the running mate for another Democrat.

Realizing that this was a strategy touted by his opponents to keep the public from taking him seriously, Kennedy stated frankly, " I'm not running for vice president, I'm running for president.