Gary Hart Blue

Silver text on a blue background

This is a campaign button for Gary Hart's run for U.S. President in 1984. With his slogan of "new ideas," Hart challenged former Vice President Walter Mondale for the Democratic nomination. Mondale countered that in part by using the Wendy's slogan "Where's the Beef?" to question Hart's ideas. Hart won primaries in New Hampshire, Ohio, and a few other states, but Mondale was elected the Democratic nominee at the convention in San Francisco in July.

Hart ran for president again in 1988, but his campaign was derailed after he was pictured with Donna Rice on the boat "Monkey Business." He suspended his run in September 1987. He rejoined the race in December 1987 but withdrew again after a poor showing on Super Tuesday in March 1988. Hart was U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1978-1987. He was appointed U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland in 2014.