<P> Religious tensions were major issues in the presidential elections of 1928 when the Democrats nominated Al Smith , a Catholic who was defeated , and in 1960 when the Democrats nominated John F. Kennedy , a Catholic who was elected . For the next three elections , a Catholic would be nominated for the vice presidency by one of the two major parties ( Bill Miller in 1964 , Ed Muskie in 1968 , Tom Eagleton and then Sarge Shriver in 1972 ) , but the ticket would lose . Geraldine Ferraro would continue the tradition in 1984 , until it was broken in 2008 . A Catholic , John Kerry , lost the 2004 election to incumbent George W. Bush , a Methodist , who may have won the Catholic vote . 2012 was the first election where both major party vice presidential candidates were Catholic , Joe Biden and Paul Ryan . </P>
<P> Religious tensions were major issues in the presidential elections of 1928 when the Democrats nominated Al Smith , a Catholic who was defeated , and in 1960 when the Democrats nominated John F. Kennedy , a Catholic who was elected . For the next three elections , a Catholic would be nominated for the vice presidency by one of the two major parties ( Bill Miller in 1964 , Ed Muskie in 1968 , Tom Eagleton and then Sarge Shriver in 1972 ) , but the ticket would lose . Geraldine Ferraro would continue the tradition in 1984 , until it was broken in 2008 . A Catholic , John Kerry , lost the 2004 election to incumbent George W. Bush , a Methodist , who may have won the Catholic vote . 2012 was the first election where both major party vice presidential candidates were Catholic , Joe Biden and Paul Ryan . </P>
who was the first catholic to be voted us president
who was the first catholic to be voted us president
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy