In the national popular vote, Kennedy beat Nixon by less than two-tenths of one percentage point (0.17%), the closest popular-vote margin of the 20th century. So close was the popular vote that a shift of 18,838 votes in Illinois and Missouri, both won by Kennedy by less than 1%, would have left both Kennedy and Nixon short of the 269 electoral votes required to win, thus forcing a contingent election in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, had all five of the states Kennedy won by a margin of less than 1% (Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, and New Mexico) been won by Nixon instead, the latter would have won the election with 282 electoral votes.
iN tHe naTionaL popular vote, keNneDy beaT nIxON bY LEss tHan tWo-tenths of oNe percENtagE PoinT (0.17%), thE CLosEst popular-vote Margin of tHe 20th cEnTuRy. so close Was the popuLAr Vote that A ShiFt of 18,838 votEs in ilLinoIS and MissoUrI, Both wOn By kenneDy by LesS ThaN 1%, would haVe left boTH kENNeDy AnD NIxon shoRt of The 269 eleCtOral VotEs requiRed to Win, thuS FOrCInG a conTInGent election In ThE houSe Of RepreSentAtives. furtherMOre, haD All five Of tHe stAtes Kennedy Won bY a mArgIn of lESS than 1% (HaWaIi ilLINois, missouri, neW jeRSeY, anD neW meXIcO) beeN WoN by nixOn INsteaD, The laTteR wOuld have Won tHe ELEctiOn witH 282 electOrAl voTes.