Sen. John F. Kennedy campaigns on Oct. 15, 1960, in Butler. Just 24 days later, Kennedy was elected president. Today marks the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Dallas.

Twenty-four days before Sen. John F. Kennedy, D-Mass., would be elected the nation’s 35th president, he stood on the Butler County Courthouse steps speaking to the 8,000 people who jammed the sidewalks and spilled onto Main Street.

Kennedy was a little late for his scheduled 1 p.m. speech on Oct. 15, 1960. He started his day in Sharon, followed by brief stops in New Castle and Beaver Falls. He rode through Zelienople and Evans City en route to Butler.

According to a story in the Butler Eagle, Kennedy spoke about the need for a higher minimum wage, Social Security improvements, federal aid to education, medical care for the aged and improved housing.

After his speech, Kennedy rested at the Willard Hotel. That site now is a used vehicle lot at Main and Wayne streets.

Later on he went on to Kittanning and Indiana before ending his day in Johnstown.

While he carried the national vote to win election, Kennedy lost in Butler County. Vice President Richard Nixon got 27,842 votes to Kennedy’s 17,435.

Kennedy was not the first presidential candidate to stop in Butler. In 1898, William Jennings Bryan also came here.