Which presidential election was noted for being the closest since 1888?

The election of 1960 is historically recognized as one of the closest presidential elections since 1888. This election featured John F. Kennedy, the Democratic candidate, and Richard Nixon, the Republican candidate. The contest was marked by a very narrow margin in both the popular and electoral votes. Kennedy won the popular vote by a mere 0.1 percentage point, which translates to just about 113,000 votes nationwide, while in the Electoral College, he secured 303 votes compared to Nixon's 219.

This election was significant not just for its tight outcome, but also for the political context of the time, with issues such as the Cold War, civil rights, and economic challenges at the forefront of the national debate. The intense competition, combined with high voter turnout, led to one of the most scrutinized contests in American history.

In contrast, the other elections mentioned either had more considerable leads in both electoral and popular votes or did not have the same level of historical significance regarding their closeness in a numerical sense. Therefore, the 1960 election stands out as an important moment in U.S. electoral history for being extremely competitive and pivotal.