The political career of John F. Kennedy skyrocketed in 1956. Kennedy’s name began to appear on lists as a possible vice presidential nominee on a ticket that Adlai Stevenson, the former Illinois governor and the 1952 Democratic nominee, was expected to head.
Kennedy spent the fall of 1956 as a surrogate for Stevenson. Over the course of five weeks Kennedy traveled 30,000 miles and gave 150 speeches in 24 states, ostensibly campaigning for Adlai Stevenson.