Illustration of a circle divided into five equal wedges in black, white, red, brown and yellow.  White text on a blue background.

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.

Founded in 1974, the DeLorean Motor Company is famous for its iconic DMC-12 sports car, known for its stainless steel body and gull-wing doors. Although it launched in 1981, only about 9,200 units were produced before the company went bankrupt in 1982, partly due to financial issues and scandals involving founder John DeLorean, who was charged with embezzlement and drug trafficking. Despite the company’s collapse, the DMC-12 became a highly collectible and sought-after item. Its legendary status was confirmed in 1985 when it appeared as the time machine in the Back to the Future trilogy, cementing its place in pop culture and symbolizing 1980s retro-futurism.

This fame led to the creation of DeLorean owner clubs worldwide, with thousands of enthusiasts celebrating its unique design and cultural significance. These groups sometimes extend their enthusiasm into politics; for example, the “DeLorean Owners for Bush 2000” button, probably a novelty rather than official campaign merchandise, humorously combines fandom with political expression. Interestingly, other fans supported Al Gore in the same election, illustrating that niche groups can possess diverse views. This button exemplifies how nostalgia, pop culture, and politics can unexpectedly intersect in memorable ways.

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 Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election after he served two terms as Bill Clinton’s Vice President from 1993-2001. He ran for the democratic party against George W. Bush and lost the election narrowly in one of the most disputed elections in United States history.

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

Ralph Nader was born in Winstead, Connecticut, in 1934. He would go on to become a prominent attorney, receiving his education from Harvard and Princeton. Before entering politics, Nader pushed the automobile industry and the federal government to improve driving safety. He criticized the design of cars, arguing that they favored looks over safety. He is perhaps best known for running on a third-party ticket in the 2000 election. 

Ralph Nader utilized the Green party to run for office against George W. Bush and Al Gore. Bush would win the election in a tight race. Nader was criticized for Gore's loss of the election by taking away key Democratic votes from Gore in swing states, especially Florida, by those who voted Green, another liberal party. Debate on Nader’s impact on Gore losing has been contested, with other political analysts suggesting other reasons. Regardless, Nader’s legacy is largely associated with getting Bush elected.

The Delorean is a motor company that was founded in 1975 but eventually went bankrupt in 1982. They are famous in pop culture for being featured in the “Back to the Future” movie series.

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"Sore-Loserman 2000" was on merchandise that was sold after the 2000 general election in the United States. The slogan was meant to look like the Gore/Lieberman campaign signs. This election was controversial after it was revealed that many votes in Florida were not counted by the machines due to the "hanging chad" on many of the punch card ballots. This means that some ballots were incompletely punched and all of the ballots had to be recounted. After the 2000 election, states discontinued the use of punch card ballots.