The image of a donkey made up of white and red letters on a blue button. 

In 1996, Bill Clinton and Al Gore ran on the Democratic national ticket for President and Vice President against Republican candidates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp, and Reform candidates Ross Perot and Pat Choate.  The donkey has been the symbol of the Democratic party since 1828, when Andrew Jackson ran for President.  Called a jackass by his competition, Jackson put the animal’s image on his campaign posters.  The symbol was later made famous when Thomas Nast, a cartoonist, used the donkey in political illustrations for newspapers.

Black and white photograph of two men with blue and red text on a white background

This button was most likely commissioned to be used during Carter’s 1976 Presidential campaign. His previous political experience included being a member of his local board of education, a Georgia State Senator and later as Governor of Georgia. Carter first appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on the May 31, 1971 issue as a new, progressive governor. James Earl Carter Jr. served as the 39^th President of the United States from 1977-1981. African Americans supported Carter’s liberal ideals and were optimistic that Carter’s upbringing in a largely African American community would be to their advantage.

Black text on a yellow background

The button refers to Barry Goldwater's last name in terms of chemical elements; Au being gold, and H2O being water.  C5H4N4O3 is the chemical formula for uric acid, a common component found in human urine.

Barry Goldwater (1909 - 1998) was an American politician and businessman who was a five-term senator for Arizona.  He was also the Republican Party nominee for the 1964 presidential election against incumbent President Lyndon Johnson.  Goldwater's conservative campaign platform ultimately failed to gain the needed support and he lost the election.

A color photograph of George W. and Laura Bush is in the center of the button, which is framed by red, white and blue with white stars and a metalic pink rim.  Yellow text outlined in blue and white outlined in red text are in the center. 

Republican Governor George W. Bush, son of 41st President George H.W. Bush, ran for President of the United States in the 2000 election. He ran against Democrat, and former Vice President to Bill Clinton, Al Gore. The race was very close, but Bush won 271 electoral college votes, compared to Al Gore's 266, making him the 43rd President.

Laura, George's wife, is the 43rd First Lady. Her focus while in the White House was on education (especially literacy) and health.

Red and blue text on a white background with an illustration of part of a flag

This button was used to bolster Asian American support for the 1992 presidential campaign of Bush/Quayle. Time Magazine reported that nearly 60% of Asian Americans voted for Bush/Quayle in the 1992 election. Asian Americans traditionally voted conservatively. The campaign of 1992 was the first time that an Asian American was hired as a full-time, salaried staff member at a presidential headquarters. Dr. Lee was the national coordinator for the Asian and Pacific American Coalition (APAC) for Bush/Quayle 1992. Dr. Lee reached out to numerous Asian groups to organize them at both the state and national levels. Asian Americans were kept abreast of the campaign through articles published in Asian newspapers throughout the country.

Stylized purple text on top of an image of a man wearing purple clothes riding a motorcycle in an alleyway of a city.

Purple Rain is a 1984 film starring Prince in his first acting role. The film grossed major profits, and the studio album of the same name sold over 22 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful soundtrack albums. The album, featuring Prince’s backing band, The Revolution, is still considered a critically acclaimed album. Two singles, “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy”, both topped the US singles charts, while the title track went high as well. The film also has the unique honor of being the last winner of the Academy Award for Best Original Musical. The category still technically exists, but is unable to be awarded.

White text on a black rectangle separated from white text on a red rectangle by a row of gold stars on a white background

Australian rock band INXS formed in 1977. They started out playing covers in pubs, then released their self-titled debut album in 1980 and began achieving international recognition. In 1987, they released their sixth studio album, Kick. The album was certified platinum six times. After the death of lead singer Michael Hutchence in 1997, the band took a year off from public performances. They then toured and recorded with guest artists. In 2002, a remastered 25th anniversary edition of Kick was released. It included a DVD, three CDs, stickers, a hardback book, and other bonus materials. On November 11, 2012, INXS announced their performance at Perth Arena would be their last.

Black text on yellow stripes across a blue background

British rock singer Peter Frampton released his sixth album, Where Should I Be, in 1979. The certified gold album featured the hit single, "I Can't Stand It No More," which reached #14 on the singles charts. Frampton produced Where Should I Be following a difficult period in his life that included a near fatal car crash in the Bahamas and the end of a long-term relationship. 

Black text and black "Frankie Man" logo on white background. 

Frankie Goes to Hollywood (FGTH) was a British dance-pop-rock band that was popular in the 1980s. Members included Brian Nash (guitar), Peter Gill (drums), Mark O'Toole (bass guitar), Paul Rutherford (vocals), and was fronted by Holly Johnson (vocals). The "Frankie Man" logo seen on this button was designed by graphic designer David Smart, who was inspired by a logo designed in the 1920s by Erwin Reusch for Delbag Filters, a German company. 

Frankie Goes to Hollywood was the second group in history to reach number one on the UK charts with each of their first three singles ("Relax", "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love"). FGTH's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984, and won the 1985 award for Best British Single. The band was also nominated for Grammy and MTV Video Music Awards in the category of Best New Artist in 1985. 

Johnson left the band after a tour in 1987, and attempts by Johnson and Rutherford to establish solo careers, as well as the other three members' attempt to keep FGTH alive, were ultimately unsuccessful. Re-issues of "Relax" and "The Power of Love" reached the UK Top Ten in 1993, and remixes of "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love" were UK Top Twenty hits again in 2000. 

A photograph of five band members standing from left to right.

Duran Duran formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. After a brief period of uncertainty for popularity in the United States, the band eventually took off stateside, thanks in part to MTV. A re-release of the album, “Rio” in 1983, along with singles including “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Is There Something I Should Know?” rising up the charts helped to confirm the band’s popularity. The band still performs as of 2016 with many of the original members.

The photograph on this button appears to be from a 1983 magazine called "Trouser Press". The band was featured on the cover of their October 1983 issue, which also included a 5-page article singing praises of the recently re-released “Rio.”