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“Star Wars” (officially known as The Strategic Defense Initiative) was a proposed missile defense system that would shield the Continental United States from attacks by nuclear weapons. The plan, formally announced in 1983, called for research into the the development of lasers, particle beams, and satellite-based missiles to detect and neutralize nuclear threats to the United States. However, analysts and researchers concluded it would take a decade just to complete the research necessary to confirm if the plan was even possible, let alone if the technology would be available. High costs and poorly defined goals led to significant pushback from the public with the media dubbing the program with the moniker Star Wars led to it being de-funded year by year until its total dissolution in 1993 by President Clinton. 

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"Oral is Moral and Safe" is a slogan that was used on Cure Aids Now campaign buttons, distributed by ACT UP, a group based in New York that is dedicated to curing AIDS. It is widely known that HIV can be transmitted through anal and vaginal sexual intercourse, and ACT UP sought to raise awareness about the virus by advocating for safe sex practices. 

White text on a blue background.  Blue star inside letter "O" of text.

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Gold background with green text with an inset photograph of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the center of the button.

A proposal to name a national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was made four days after his assassination in 1968 by congressman John Conyers. This appeal came as a way to commemorate Dr. King for his contributions to society and was to be observed on his birthday, January 15th.  The bill was introduced yearly but each time failed to gain support to be passed in Congress. By the late 1970s, the legislation gathered more support through signed petitions, endorsement by President Jimmy Carter and a national campaign by King’s widow, Coretta Scott King. The bill would eventually be signed into law in 1983, but only first observed three years later in 1986.

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The history of labor unions in the United States began in the 1800s, with workers organizing together to demand better treatment, safety, and pay during the Industrial Revolution. Over the decades, organized labor has achieved such labor standards such as the minimum wage and maximum working hours, and workplace safety regulations. Labor union membership as a percentage of American workers peaked in the 1950s, with 35% of the labor force belonging to a union. Today that number is closer to 12%, with the most prominent unions in the public sector, such as teachers, government workers, and police. 

White text, a horizontal red line and the Body Shop logo on a black background.

The Body Shop was created in 1976 by a British human and environmental activist Anita Roddick and is one of the first cosmetic companies to prohibit animal testing with their products. Their iconic wreath logo debuted in 1976 and was modernized in 2004.The Body Shop began campaigning against animal testing in the cosmetic industry in 1989 and continued through the 1990s. A major success for the campaign came in 1998 when the UK government banned animal testing not only for cosmetics but for the ingredients as well.

Photograph of Karenna Gore on a multi-color tie-dye background.  White text inside blue circle and white text with drop shadow along bottom of button.

Karenna Gore is the oldest daughter of former Vice President Al Gore who was the Democratic nominee for President in the 2000 election running against Republican George W. Bush. In an attempt to reach young voters Gore helped her father's campaign as a youth outreach chair. She also heads “Gorenet,” an online resource to prepare students for professional careers.

Comic illustration of George Bush with black text on a white background.

Political cartoons can be used to diffuse a heavy political concept to make more palatable to an audience. American involvement in the Middle East is a controversial topic with many opinions on how America should be conducting foreign policy. Supporters argue that America has a duty to help foster democracy and intervene in areas where human rights are being violated. Other supporters argue America needs to keep close watch over areas filled with their enemies in order to prevent terrorist attacks.

Support for involvement in the Middle East is not universal and many oppose any involvement. Several members of the opposition do not believe that the United States is acting humanely and committing crimes of their own. Others believe that the United States has made little progress in the area and should cut its losses. There are those with isolationist ideals who think the United States should focus on itself and not use resources of the Middle East. Some have even suggested that the reasons to stay in the Middle East are more sinister and that the United States is only there for oil.

Photographs of Bill Clinton and Al Gore side by side with a small red silhouetted illustration of Wisconsin between them.  The middle of the button is half white and half blue with white text.  Blue outer border with red ring and white stars.

The Wisconsin Federation of Teachers, now the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, supported incumbent President William "Bill" Clinton and Vice President Albert "Al" Gore when they ran in the 53rd presidential election in the United States in 1996 by releasing promotional buttons. Clinton and Gore defeated the Republican candidate Robert "Bob" Dole and Reform candidate Ross Perot with 49.2% of votes from the electoral college and remained in office for another term. 

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By definition, the term bushwhack means to ambush. In the run-up to the 1992 election, anti-George H. W. Bush memorabilia including shirts and buttons were produced that read, “We’ve Been Bushwhacked.” This clever double entendre conveys opponents’ resistance to a second Bush presidency all while describing the first term as an “ambush” on the American people. Bush ultimately lost the presidency to former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, but whether or not the “bushwhacked” slogan was responsible for moving the needle in the election remains to be seen.