I'm For Nixon Blue

This button dates from the 1960 US Presidential campaign of Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) and Henry Cabot Lodge (1902-1985).  At the time of the campaign, Nixon was the US Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and Lodge was the US Ambassador to the UN.  Nixon and Lodge, Republicans, were opposed by the Democrats John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).  The race was close in the popular election, but Kennedy and Johnson received 303 of the 537 Electoral College votes.  Nixon and Lodge received only 219.

By 1960, Nixon had already had the dubious nickname "Tricky Dick" for ten year.  The name orginated with journalist, turned candidate, Manchester Boddy in the 1950 California US Senate race.  Boddy argued that Nixon tactics to gain support from Democrats was less than respectable.  Soon after Boddy coined the name the Vererans Democratic Committee used it in political advertisements.