I'm Reddy for Teddy

Category
Additional Images
Text on Button "I'M REDDY FOR TEDDY"
Image Description

White text on a red background.

Curl Text (union bug) COPYRIGHT BET YOUR BUTTONS COMPANY. 1980 (312) 266-0418
Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
The Manufacturer
Additional Information

In 1980 Ted Kennedy, younger brother to John F. and Robert Kennedy, announced his campaign for president of the United States, seeking the Democratic Party nomination over the incumbent Jimmy Carter. A reelection for Carter was in jeopardy due to national crises, and Kennedy seemed to be the obvious choice of a candidate for the party. 

However, in a televised interview with Roger Mudd of CBS, his unfortunate response to the question, “Why do you want to be president?” shattered that advantage. Kennedy was unable to answer the question with a direct and honest answer, but rambled without giving a straight reply. 

His head start fell away, and the expected easy win instead became a battle.

Sources

D’Aprile, S. (2009, August 26). Remembering 1980: Kennedy’s Brutal Political Fistfight. Campaigns and Elections. Retrieved from https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/remembering-1980-kennedy-s-brutal-political-fistfight/

Fraga, K. (2019, February 4). “The Question”: Ted Kennedy & the Pitfalls of Running for President. History First. Retrieved from https://history-first.com/2019/02/04/the-question-ted-kennedy-the-pitfalls-of-running-for-president/

Catalog ID PO0793