Nixon I Have Nothing To Hide

Red outlined, peace sign wielding, streaking Nixon between blue text over white background. 

The years between 1972 and 1974 were difficult for US President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994). In 1972, the Nixon Administration was involved in the break-in and bugging of the Democratic National Committee's Washington, D. C. headquarters. By 1973, Nixon's staff had been brought to testify about his involvement before Congress. During the testimonies, it was discovered that Nixon had tape recorders in the Oval Office. Nixon resigned his presidency in 1974, amidst impeachment proceeding in the House of Representatives.  

The years between 1972 and 1974, however, were good for streaking, the process of running naked in public. Streaking became a part of American popular culture in the aftermath of the free love youth movements in the 1960s. This button shows Nixon partaking in the fad, his hands in the V-sign.

The V-sign meant peace to the free love youth movements of the 1960s, but it also symbolized victory (among other things).  General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) famously used the sign in 1945 to symbolize end of WWII.  Nixon, Eisenhower's Vice President for eight years, used it during his famous Vietnam War victory claim. 

Read more about the History of Streaking Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.