During the 1960 presidential campaign Patterson was among a handful of Southern governors who backed John F. Kennedy for president . He raised money , collected delegates loyal to Kennedy within the state of Alabama and led the state 's delegation to the 1960 Democratic convention in Los Angeles . Patterson informed Kennedy of the Cuban invasion plan , thinking that carrying out the invasion before election day would have benefited Kennedy 's Republican opponent , Vice President Richard M. Nixon . Only a few months into his presidency , Kennedy approved a modified version of the invasion plan , the Bay of Pigs Invasion
1960 Democratic convention
1960 Democratic National Convention
John Malcolm Patterson