I definitely think this is the best advice here.

I fly out of DCA weekly (typically up the East Coast for connections). Personally, I would never risk a 60 minute last nonstop connection of the day routing option (also, one the likely entails a 35X arrival - that alone can add 15 mins to the connection time). I haven't arrived or departed within 30 minutes of schedule on AA at DCA for the last two months (admittedly, the June/July doesn't help and November will most certainly be better). That being said, best option is easily a JFK-LAX nonstop, IMHO. Short of that, I would pick the ORD connection.

-FlyerBeek