Photograph of George McGovern's head opposite an illustration of the head of a winking cartoon fox wearing a black bow tie.  Red text on a yellow background.

George McGovern was born in 1922 in South Dakota. He served in the Army Air Forces in WWII before obtaining degrees from Dakota Wesleyan University and Northwestern University, earning himself a Ph.D. to become a history professor.  He was elected to the U.S representative in 1956-60, and in 1962, ran a successful campaign to become a Senator. He was outspoken about his opposition of the Vietnam War. McGovern ran an unsuccessful campaign for presidency in 1968, as a stand-in for JFK who had been assassinated. He lost, but continued to try to end the Vietnam War through legislation that was defeated in both 1970 and 71.

This led McGovern to his 1972 grassroots-based presidential campaign. His campaign gained momentum and he was able to secure the democratic nomination; however, this left the Democratic Party split ideologically. After choosing Thomas Eagleton as his Vice President running mate, McGovern’s credibility was damaged. Incumbent Richard Nixon beat McGovern in one of the biggest landslides in U.S electoral history. He continued to be a senator until 1980, where he was defeated in his attempt at a fourth term.

Illustration of George McGovern with outstretched arms holding a dove with an olive branch in its beak.  Blue text on a white background.

George McGovern was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Presidency in 1972. Running against the republican incumbent Richard Nixon, McGovern ultimately lost in a landslide defeat in which he carried only Washington D.C. and Massachusetts. 

McGovern entered the race as an underdog compared to fellow democrat Edmund Muskie, who most assumed would be the candidate. However, McGovern's progressive policies and promise to withdraw from the Vietnam War if elected made him a popular candidate with young people and those active in the women's and civil rights movements. McGovern suffered from a divided party, with many democrats publicly siding with Nixon. In the end the McGovern campaign took 17 electoral votes to Nixon's 520.

Light green background with large black text

In the 1940 Presidential election, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was running for his third term in office against Republican nominee, Wendell WIllkie. Willkie, a lawyer and corporate executive, surprised many as the choice for his party's nomination due to his lack of experience in politics at the time. This button was used by Roosevelt supporters to address those concerns. While it was not traditional to seek a third term in office, Roosevelt used his extensive experience in politics as a reason why he should be re-elected. Roosevelt would go on to win the election, becoming the first and only President of the United States to have ever been elected three times.

Blue text over a white background

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt has been considered by many historians as having dramatically changed the role of the first lady. Rather than stay in the background, Eleanor Roosevelt was an active participant in her husbands administration.  When her husband suffered a polio attack in 1921, Eleanor stepped up to help her husband by taking a more active role in his political career. In addition, she gave numerous press conferences, speaking out on a number of issues, including human rights, racial discrimination, and women's rights. The First Lady's high profile attracted public ridicule by her families political opponents. In his campaign for President, Wendell Willkie personally attacked the first lady, criticizing the fact that both the President and his wife were seeking a third term in office.

Orange text on a white background.

This button dates to the 1940 presidential election and the showdown between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie. Roosevelt won the elections of 1932 and 1936 and was running for a third time. This had never been done in American politics, and many Republicans viewed this as Roosevelt trying to become a dictator. Also, Roosevelt turned down Willkie’s challenge to a live radio debate. Button makers, independently of the Willkie campaign, had a field day making and selling buttons critical of both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and “Dictators Don’t Debate” is one of many 1940 election buttons found in collections.

Black text on a gold background.

Green text with a white background

For Wendell Willkie's 1940 campaign for President, an unprecedented amount of merchandise was created to support his cause. Willkie, who had never held political office prior to the election was seen as an unlikely candidate. This may be why Willkie's campaign was particularly aggressive with merchandise. As described in an August 1940 issue of the New Yorker, the  campaign had plans of promoting itself on things such as neckties, chewing gum, and cowbells. But the most active way of promoting Willkie was through buttons. For the campaign, Willkie made an estimated thirty million buttons in total. These buttons were made with numerous messages that appealed to a large spectrum of voters. For example, this button was created for Willkie's younger supporters who weren't yet at the age to officially vote in the election.

Blue text on a white background.

Wendell Willkie ran as the Republican candidate in the 1940 presidential election. He seemingly came out of nowhere, having switched political parties in 1939. Willkie was against isolationism, an issue dividing the party. He was too progressive for conservative Republicans, but he gathered the support of many disaffected Republicans who wanted someone with a chance of defeating Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He also modeled his image as an “everyman” with a Midwestern accent, rumpled suit, and “country” haircut. He also pledged to not reduce New Deal welfare programs and expand Social Security. Although this attracted middle class voters, Willkie had difficulty attracting the working class. Roosevelt was able to keep his popularity with working class, minority, and Southern voters, winning the 1940 election by 5 million votes and an electoral landslide.

Black text on a yellow background.

Joseph McCarthy was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 to 1957. During the Cold War with the Soviet Union when the U.S. feared the spread of communism, McCarthy became known for his smear tactics against Americans who were under suspicion of communist ties. His practice of making allegations against people without evidence has become known as "McCarthyism".

"Joe Must Go" was a movement to recall Senator McCarthy in the early 1950s. It was financed by a book of the same title by Leroy Gore. The movement was initiated because McCarthy was seen as disrespectful of Wisconsin's General Ralph Wise Zwicker whom he was investigating, undermining President Eisenhower's authority, and ignoring the dilemma that dairy farmers were facing with price-slashing surpluses.

Red, white and blue horizontal stripes.  Blue text inside white stripe.

Joseph McCarthy was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 to 1957. During the Cold War with the Soviet Union when the U.S. feared the spread of communism, McCarthy became known for his smear tactics against Americans who were under suspicion of communist ties. His practice of making allegations against people without evidence has become known as "McCarthyism".

"Joe Must Go" was a movement to recall Senator McCarthy in the early 1950s. It was financed by a book of the same title by Leroy Gore. The movement was initiated because McCarthy was seen as disrespectful of Wisconsin's General Ralph Wise Zwicker whom he was investigating, undermining President Eisenhower's authority, and ignoring the dilemma that dairy farmers were facing with price-slashing surpluses.