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Topps Co. was founded in 1938 and is most prominently known for creating sports trading cards. Today, Topps sells predominantly candy and sports memorabilia. In 1965, Topps began producing “Wise Guy” metal pins that featured satire for novelty and humor. Like the collectible sports cards, the buttons came in colorful packages and were sold for a nickel a piece. Though some buttons made by Topps came with its trademark bubble gum, “Wise Guy” pins did not.

Illustration of a person wearing a tie, holding an ax and smiling on a blue and orange background with black outlined text

"When you call me that, smile" is a catch phrase from the novel The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains written by Owen Wister. The story takes place in the Old West, and the main character is call "The Virginian." His name is never revealed. The Virginian is a ranch hand at Sunk Creek Ranch, located in the state of Wyoming. The line comes from a scene when the Virginian is gambling with the antagonist, Trampas. It was the Virginian's turn to bet but he was silent. Trampas said, "Your bet, you son of a b----." The Virginian pulls out his pistol and says very calmly and gently, "When you call me that, smile." 

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The original Non-Violent Action Committee (N-VAC) was formed in 1957 as an anti-war group. The purpose of the group was to oppose the US government’s nuclear war testing without using violence. The legacy of their nonviolent direct action had significant influence on other movements, especially the civil rights movement. This button was created in 1964 by a south central Los Angeles branch of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to show support towards African Americans during the height of the civil rights movement.

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"How Many More?" is a protest slogan coined in the United States during the Vietnam War that refers to the number of people that must be drafted, die, or be killed in pursuit of of U.S. victory. Though the Vietnam War was initially supported by the American public at its start in 1955, by the mid-1960s a growing number of people opposed the war and protested against it. The Tet Offensive of 1968 especially swayed public opinion after newspapers and cameras gave the public a clearer picture of the situation overseas. Concurrently, the growing number of soldiers being drafted led to widespread protests; these were mostly led by underrepresented groups and university students. Despite major public outcry and division at home, the Vietnam War did not come to an end until the Fall of Saigon in April 1975.

Illustration of green-colored American flag with lighter green 'ecology' symbol in place of the 50 state stars.  White background.

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CP Curbs Polution is an abbreviated version of the phrase “cleaner production curbs pollution.” Cleaner Production (CP) is a science concept and movement that emphasizes environmental management by reducing sources to limit pollution. CP performs waste reduction, non-polluting production, energy efficiency, safe and healthy work environments, and environmentally sound products. CP also plays an important role in addressing global issues such as smog pollution. CP aims to provide a long-term strategy to eliminate and reduce emissions that cause pollution.

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Writer and political activist, Leroy Eldridge Cleaver, ran for President of the United States in 1968 as the nominee of the Peace and Freedom Party. He was the Minister of Information and the head of the international section of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. In 1968 when he ran for President, he was involved in a shootout with police in Oakland, California that left one member of the Black Panthers dead and two police officers wounded. Despite jumping bail and fleeing the country for Cuba, Algeria, and France, he and his running mate still received over 36,000 votes in the election. Cleaver came back to the U.S. in 1975 and became a Republican and a member of the Mormon Church.

Illustration of Eldridge Cleaver on the left side with  black text to the right on a gold background.

During the 1968 Presidential election, Eldridge Cleaver, author of Soul on Ice and a leading member of the Black Panther Party ran on the ticket of the Peace and Freedom Party. A few of the policies that the party included the immediate withdrawal from Vietnam and also offering the full support of the Black Liberation Movement. The campaign would end shortly, however, as in that same year, Cleaver was wounded during a shootout between Black Panthers and Oakland police. Facing criminal charges, Cleaver posted bail and fled the United States and led a life of exile in Algeria, France, and Cuba. It wouldn't be until 1975 that Cleaver would return to the United States to once again resume his mission of igniting political transformation within the country.

Illustration of Malcolm X and black text inside a white cirlce in the center of the button.  White text on black outer border.

The Black Panther Party, originally called the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, was founded in Oakland, California, in 1966 following the 1965 assassination of Malcolm X. Party co-founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale based much of the organization’s philosophies on Malcolm X’s ideas including black nationalism and armed self-defense. In 1967 armed party members marched into the California state legislature to protest a gun control bill. Party activities slowed in the mid-1970s into the 1980s as President Herbert Hoover devoted Federal Bureau of Investigations resources to its end and leadership dissolved.