Kennedy didn’t beat Nixon. Satire beat Nixon.

The line is used to argue that comedic ridicule and political satire can shape public perception enough to affect election outcomes, specifically the close 1960 U.S. presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. It is often repeated in discussions about satire’s political power.

The claim is that Nixon’s loss is better explained by the cultural impact of satirical attacks than by Kennedy’s campaigning alone—suggesting humor can undermine a candidate’s image and credibility in a way that changes votes.

Kennedy didn’t beat Nixon. Satire beat Nixon.