White background with red text.  Illustration of Presidential Seal eagle and ribbon with red stars and stripes.

On July 27, 1987, President Ronald Reagan visited the city of Hartford, Wisconsin. During his visit, President Reagan gave an address to employees of the Broan Manufacturing Company. The company manufactures a variety of indoor products, including cabinets, lighting fixtures, and heaters. Reagan's speech touched on topics including how Broan Manufacturing is a prime example of a success story in America as well as his plans and aspirations for improving the country's economy.

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The history of labor unions in the United States began during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s when workers organized together to demand better treatment, safety, and pay. Over the decades since, labor unions have worked to establish standards for fair working hours, minimum wage, and workplace safety. Labor union membership peaked in the 1950s, with 35% of the labor force belonging to a union. As of 2022, that number is closer to 12%, with the most prominent unions in the public sector, such as teachers, government workers, and police.

The negotiating committee refers to a practice of collective bargaining wherein the employees in a union work with their employers to negotiate terms of employment. Negotiating committees allow unions to achieve desired labor standards. Members of the committee are elected by the local union and are responsible for attending negotiating meetings and doing the research necessary to make decisions that protect union members. "1010" on this button refers to the local union number committee, an identification designation given to local unions in separate regions.  

Out of these negotiations, union contracts are created, which make the achieved standards set by the union and employers legally binding. This is most likely what the term “world-class contract” refers to. Western Territory General Vice President of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Gary R. Allen is quoted as saying, “Our members’ world-class work deserves a world-class, top-notch contract.” Essentially, those who wear this button were indicating their support of the negotiating committee's commitment to a world-class contract. 

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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. 

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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.