November 1963 · Harris/Newsweek Survey · 1,250 Respondents

JFK Case Study

In November 1963, 57% of Americans approved of President Kennedy. What drove that number — and what could have changed it? Five tools let you explore the data yourself.

Start Exploring

Five Ways to Engage with the Data

Two simulators run on the published model. A stress test challenges the headline. An explorer and a model builder let anyone inspect, challenge, or extend the released account.

Use the published model

All-or-Nothing Simulator

Pin every respondent to one chosen response level per factor and see how Kennedy's 57% approval shifts. Runs on Electric Insights' release-day explanatory account.

Try it

Fine-Tuning Simulator

Same published model, but redistribute response shares gradually rather than pinning. Watch how small distributional changes move the approval needle.

Try it

Stress test the published headline

Non-Response Test

Specify a nonresponse pattern and see whether the 57% headline would survive it. A vulnerability check on the released score, separate from the explanatory model.

Try it

Inspect, challenge, or extend the published model

Survey Explorer

Browse the raw responses. See how Americans answered each question, which questions moved together, and how one group compared to another. Frequencies, cross-tabs, and correlations.

Try it

Model Builder

Take a whack at the published model. Add or remove predictors, refit on a subgroup, or build a model from scratch. The published model remains the released account; this tool exists so anyone can challenge or extend it.

Try it

All tools use data from the original 1963 Harris/Newsweek survey

Historical Context: November 1963

Key Events Timeline

November 1

South Vietnamese coup against Diem

November 18

JFK's final public speech in Tampa

November 22

Assassination in Dallas

Civil Rights

Civil Rights Act stalled in Congress

Vietnam

16,000 U.S. military advisors deployed

Cold War

Cuban Missile Crisis aftermath

Economy

5.5% unemployment, 4.4% GDP growth

The Original Survey

Download the Harris/Newsweek Questionnaire (PDF)

Louis Harris & Associates surveyed a nationally representative sample of likely voters for Newsweek just before JFK's assassination.

57%

Approval Rating

59%

Would vote for JFK over Goldwater

64%

Favored a personal income tax cut

Survey Topics Covered:

JFK's performance

US/Soviet relations

Space program

Civil rights

Economic policy

Ready to explore what drove the 57%?

Simulate scenarios, stress-test the headline against nonresponse, or build your own model from scratch.

Browse the Tools