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In the 1940 presidential election, Republican candidate, Wendell Willkie, faced off against President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was campaigning for a third term in office. While it was not yet written in the Constitution, a U.S. President customarily served only two terms in office, making President Roosevelt's reelection campaign controversial. Using the President's break from tradition as a platform for his own campaign, Willkie and his staff used the slogan, "No Third Term" as an attack on Roosevelt. Despite its irregular nature, Roosevelt went on to win the election, becoming the only President in American history to ever be elected for a third term. First passed by Congress in 1947 and later ratified by the States in 1951, the Twenty-Second Amendment specifically limits a president to only two terms in office.​

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In the 1940 presidential election, Republican candidate, Wendell Willkie, faced off against President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was campaigning for a third term in office. While it was not yet written in the Constitution, a U.S. President customarily served only two terms in office, making President Roosevelt's reelection campaign controversial. Using the President's break from tradition as a platform for his own campaign, Willkie and his staff used the slogan, "No Third Term" as an attack on Roosevelt. Despite its irregular nature, Roosevelt went on to win the election, becoming the only President in American history to ever be elected for a third term. First passed by Congress in 1947 and later ratified by the States in 1951, the Twenty-Second Amendment specifically limits a president to only two terms in office.

Inset photographs of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew separated by an illustration of a red white and blue colored ribbon.  Small shield emblem with Vertical red and white stripes, and a blue upper field with white stars is in the top center of button.  Blue text on a white background.

Richard Milhous Nixon and Spiro Theodore "Ted" Agnew ran for President and Vice President of the United States in 1968. After winning the November election, they served as the 37th President and the 39th Vice President, respectively. They were successively reelected in the 1972 election, but following multiple scandals, Agnew resigned from office in late 1973, while Nixon resigned in 1974.

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After the disastrous and chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago many felt disillusioned with the Democratic Party. A major push was conceived to try and appeal to minority voters and progressive Whites to form a new political coalition for the Democratic Party to tap into as its voter base. To promote this new multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition promotional and campaign materials were produced to show the new and inclusive version of the party.

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Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957) was an American politician whose actions are best recognized for dominating the U.S. political climate of the 1950s. McCarthy previously served as a circuit judge before running for the Senate in 1946, which this button was used to promote. In a famous 1950 speech, McCarthy made the claim that the State Department had been infiltrated by communists, which created a national uproar. In testifying before the Senate committee on Foreign Relations, McCarthy was unable to back up his claims. 

Winning reelection in 1952, McCarthy continued with his investigations. In 1954, a televised 36-day hearing was held where McCarthy turned his communist accusations towards the United States Army. McCarthy's accusations were found unsubstantial, weakening his support and popularity. In that same year, the Senate called for a vote condemning McCarthy for his conduct and lack of evidence in his investigations. The vote would lead to McCarthy being censured by the Senate, thus hindering his influence over the American public.

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Eugene McCarthy was born on March 29th, 1916 in Watkins, Minnesota. From 1949 to 1959 he was a Representative for Minnesota’s 4th District, and from 1959 to 1971 he served as a U.S. Senator for Minnesota. McCarthy attempted multiple U.S. presidential runs—most famously against Lyndon B. Johnson—but never succeeded in gaining his Democratic party's nomination. He ran on the platform of anti-war sentiment and was popular with youth. After his last term as a Senator in 1970, McCarthy went on the become a lecturer and writer.

Illustration of white dove with an olive branch with white text on a blue background.

On April 15, which was the federal income tax filing deadline in 1967, hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets in New York City and San Francisco to protest the Vietnam War. In New York, protestors marched from Central Park to the UN building to hear speeches given by fierce critics of the war like Martin Luther King, Jr., Benjamin Spock, and Jan Berry Crumb. In San Francisco, more than 100,000 protestors participated in the event. Individuals taking part in the demonstrations opposed the use of federal taxes toward offensive military ends. Doves and olive branches were popularly used as symbols for the anti-war movement as they traditionally stand for peace.

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Archie Bunker was a character on the CBS sitcom All in the Family, which ran from 1971 to 1979. Portrayed by Carroll O'Connor, Archie was the blue-collar, curmudgeonly husband to Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton) and father to Gloria (Sally Struthers). Known for his abrasive nature and often bigoted opinions, the character, along with Edith, was one of the most beloved of television and popular American culture in general in the 1970s.

In 1972, All in the Family and its cast of characters were promoted with merchandise as a tie-in with the U.S. presidential election of that year. 

Photograph of DeLorean DMC-12 sports car with its gull-wing doors open with white text on a black background.

The DeLorean Motor Company was an American vehicle manufacturer from 1975-1982. They are known for their signature stainless steel sports car DeLorean which featured gull-wing doors. There are several owner clubs around the world consisting of over 6,000 members who support each other and their common interest. One owners club supported Pat Buchanan in the 2000 presidential election. He served as advisor to President Nixon and President Reagan and ran for the republican nomination twice before with no success. He announced his candidacy in March of 1999, but changed his political party in October and was eventually caught in the Florida recount controversy.

Photograph of DeLorean DMC-12 sports car with its gull-wing doors open with white text on a black background.

The DeLorean Motor Company was founded in 1974. The company's most famous model, the DMC-12, debuted in 1981. However, the company only produced about 9,200 DMC-12s before filing for bankruptcy in 1982. Leading up to the Company's collapse, founder John DeLorean was caught embezzling company funds and smuggling cocaine into the United States.  

Despite the Company's economic failures, the DMC-12's rarity and unique vertically opening doors solidified its place as a sought-after collectors item. The vehicle then became internationally known in 1985 for its feature in the popular Steven Spielberg trilogy, Back to the Future. The DMC-12's cult status led to the formation of a number of owner's clubs and associations, one of which likely made this button leading up to the 2000 presidential election.