{"schema_version":"bf_book_companion_v1","release_id":"20260414T102527Z","book":{"amazon_purchase_url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593852192?tag=bookfrontier-20","asin":"0593852192","authors":["Chris Wallace","Mitch Weiss"],"book_id":"9780593852194","canonical_url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780593852194","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780593852194.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","description":"Instant New York Times Bestseller The riveting new book on the momentous year, campaign, and election that shaped American history It’s January 2, 1960: the day that Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy declared his candidacy; and with this opening scene, Chris Wallace offers readers a front-row seat to history. From the challenge of primary battles in a nation that had never elected a Catholic president, to the intense machinations of the national conventions—where JFK chose Lyndon Johnson as his running mate over the impassioned objections of his brother Bobby—this is a nonfiction political thriller filled with intrigue, cinematic action, and fresh reporting. Like with many popular histories, readers may be familiar with the story, but few will know the behind-the-scenes details, told here with gripping effect. Featuring some of history’s most remarkable characters, page-turning action, and vivid details, Countdown 1960 follows a group of extraordinary politicians, civil rights leaders, Hollywood stars, labor bosses, and mobsters during a pivotal year in American history. The election of 1960 ushered in the modern era of presidential politics, with televised debates, private planes, and slick advertising. In fact, television played a massive role. More than 70 million Americans watched one or all four debates. The public turned to television to watch campaign rallies. And on the night of the election, the contest between Kennedy and Nixon was so close that Americans were glued to their televisions long after dawn to see who won. The election of 1960 holds stunning parallels to our current political climate. There were—potentially valid—claims of voter fraud and a stolen election. There was also a presidential candidate faced with the decision of whether to contest the result or honor the peaceful transfer of power.","forthcoming":false,"isbn13":"9780593852194","publication_date":"20241008","publisher":"Penguin Publishing Group","slug":"countdown-1960","subtitle":"The Behind-the-scenes Story of the 312 Days That Changed America's Politics Forever","title":"Countdown 1960"},"discovery":{"categories":{"all":[{"bisac_code":"POL040010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"The Presidency & Executive","score":0.8035,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS036070","confidence_band":"medium","label":"21st-Century America","score":0.7789,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS036060","confidence_band":"medium","label":"20th-Century America","score":0.7714,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"hint":[{"bisac_code":"POL040010","confidence_band":"medium","label":"The Presidency & Executive","score":0.8035,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS036070","confidence_band":"medium","label":"21st-Century America","score":0.7789,"source":"bisac_hint_model"},{"bisac_code":"HIS036060","confidence_band":"medium","label":"20th-Century America","score":0.7714,"source":"bisac_hint_model"}],"publisher":[{"bisac_code":"HIS036060","confidence_band":"high","label":"20th-Century America","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"HIS036100","confidence_band":"high","label":"New England History","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"},{"bisac_code":"POL008000","confidence_band":"high","label":"Elections & Campaigns","score":1,"source":"onix_publisher_code"}]},"genres":[{"label":"The Presidency & Executive","score":0.8035,"slug":"the-presidency-executive"},{"label":"21st-Century America","score":0.7789,"slug":"21st-century-america"},{"label":"20th-Century America","score":0.7714,"slug":"20th-century-america"}],"reader_fit":["Good for readers who enjoy The Presidency & Executive","Good for readers interested in gifts","Good for fans of History"],"related_lists":[{"intro":"","slug":"shelf-his036070-united-states-21st-century","title":"United States 21st Century Books","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/lists/shelf-his036070-united-states-21st-century"},{"intro":"","slug":"shelf-pol040010-executive-branch","title":"Executive Branch Books","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/lists/shelf-pol040010-executive-branch"}],"series":null,"similar_books":[{"authors":["Carol Leonnig"],"book_id":"9780399589010","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780399589010.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":25.2255,"title":"Zero Fail","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780399589010"},{"authors":["Carol Leonnig","Aaron C. Davis"],"book_id":"9780593831373","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780593831373.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":20.2373,"title":"Injustice","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780593831373"},{"authors":["Josh Dawsey","Tyler Pager","Isaac Arnsdorf","& 0 more"],"book_id":"9780593832530","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780593832530.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":20.0598,"title":"2024","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780593832530"},{"authors":["Ben Rhodes"],"book_id":"9781984856074","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781984856074.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":17.1381,"title":"After the Fall","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781984856074"},{"authors":["Jeffrey Toobin"],"book_id":"9781400096794","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781400096794.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":17.0213,"title":"The Nine","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781400096794"},{"authors":["Jonathan Blitzer"],"book_id":"9781984880802","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9781984880802.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":16.6027,"title":"Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9781984880802"},{"authors":["Steven Levitsky","Daniel Ziblatt"],"book_id":"9780593443071","cover_image_url":"https://img.bookfrontier.com/9780593443071.jpg?v=20260414T102527Z%3A2026-04-14T10%3A25%3A27Z","score":16.2718,"title":"Tyranny of the Minority","url":"https://bookfrontier.com/books/9780593443071"}],"topics":[{"evidence_refs":["keyword:best sellers"],"label":"Best","score":0.2854,"slug":"best"},{"evidence_refs":["keyword:best sellers"],"label":"Sellers","score":0.0725,"slug":"sellers"},{"evidence_refs":["keyword:new york times best sellers"],"label":"York","score":0.0661,"slug":"york"},{"evidence_refs":["keyword:new york times best sellers"],"label":"Times","score":0.0545,"slug":"times"}],"what_you_get":["Reading lane: The Presidency & Executive and 21st Century America.","Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group."]},"llm_signals":null,"source_presence":{"amazon":true,"book_detail":true,"goodreads":true,"llm_signals":false,"similarity_seed":true},"stats":{"amazon_ratings_count":0,"goodreads_ratings_count":1841,"goodreads_reviews_count":199,"quality_score":0.918}}