"So if 1960 had occurred under the old convention system, Kennedy would have had a very hard time getting the Democratic nomination because he would have been rejected by all those people who had worked with him in Washington"

This quote by Michael Beschloss is describing the 1960 Democratic National Convention, which was the very first to utilize the primary system. Under the old convention system, prospects were picked by celebration leaders and delegates, instead of by the individuals. Kennedy would have had a hard time getting the nomination because he was a relatively brand-new face in Washington and had not built up the relationships with celebration leaders and delegates that were needed to protect the nomination. This quote highlights the significance of the main system, which permitted Kennedy to win the nomination in spite of his lack of connections in Washington.