Monday Memories: She would have voted for Kennedy in 1960 if she were 21.

Many young Democrats were not old enough to pull the lever for John F. Kennedy in 1960, but it did not dim their enthusiasm for the presidential candidate. In this 1960 election night Blade archive photo, Democrats wave balloons in celebration as Kennedy starts showing an early lead over Richard Nixon. Shown are Veronica Nagy, Judy Renz, and Lewis Andrews. Veronica is wearing a campaign button with the slogan, “If I were 21 I’d vote for Kennedy.” The voting age wasn’t lowered to 18 until 1971, with the passage of the 26th Amendment. In a proclamation establishing July 21, 2021, as the 50th anniversary of the amendment, President Joe Biden noted that his first senate race in 1972 was one of the first elections in which 18-year-olds could vote. Go to thebladevault.com/memories to purchase more historical photos taken by our award-winning staff of photographers, past and present, or to purchase combinations of stories and photos.