Illustration of a green four leaf clover with stars around the outside and white text on it all on a white background

The image of a four-leaf clover depicted on this button may have been intended to refer the Kennedy family's Irish roots, or to support Kennedy with the symbolic meanings of the four leaves (faith, hope, love and luck).

When incumbent President Jimmy Carter's approval ratings were very low at the end of his first term in 1980, some members of the Democratic Party considered it necessary to challenge him during the primary elections. Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy decided to finally make a run for the presidency, following his brothers John and Robert. 

The 1980 Democratic National Convention, held in August at Madison Square Garden, was notable for the rivalry between Carter and Kennedy. Although Carter had maintained a substantial lead throughout the primary elections, Kennedy refused to drop out of the race. At the convention, Kennedy attempted to have delegates released from their obligation to vote for Carter, but was unsuccessful. Carter went on to lose in the general election to the Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan. 

Blue text on white background on right-hand side, black-and-white photograph of Barry Goldwater on left-hand side, blue outer rim. 

Barry Goldwater unsuccessfully ran in the 1964 presidential election against incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was still positively associated with Kennedy's popularity and won 61.1% of the popular vote, the highest margin since 1820. Goldwater's slogan, "In Your Heart You Know He's Right" was parodied by Johnson's campaign with the phrases "In Your Guts, You Know He's Nuts" and "In Your Heart, He's Too Far Right". 

Black text on white background, red heart and black-and-white photograph in the center. 

Barry Goldwater unsuccessfully ran in the 1964 presidential election against incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was still positively associated with Kennedy's popularity and won 61.1% of the popular vote, the highest margin since 1820. Goldwater's slogan, "In Your Heart You Know He's Right" was parodied by Johnson's campaign with the phrases "In Your Guts, You Know He's Nuts" and "In Your Heart, He's Too Far Right". 

Black text on gold background, white center with black-and-white portrait of Barry Goldwater. 

Barry Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona (1953–65, 1969–87). He unsuccessfully ran in the 1964 presidential election against incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was still positively associated with Kennedy's popularity and won 61.1% of the popular vote, the highest margin since 1820. Although he was raised Episcopalian, Goldwater was the first candidate with Jewish heritage (his father was Jewish) to be nominated for President by a major political party. 

Red ring on outer edge, blue text on white background, blue star outlines and black-and-white photograph of Barry Goldwater in center. 

Barry Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona (1953–65, 1969–87). He unsuccessfully ran in the 1964 presidential election against incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was still positively associated with Kennedy's popularity and won 61.1% of the popular vote, the highest margin since 1820. Although he was raised Episcopalian, Goldwater was the first candidate with Jewish heritage (his father was Jewish) to be nominated for President by a major political party. 

Blue illustration of a man in shorts and tank top running with red text above on a white background

This button is most likely from Ted Kennedy's unsuccessful presidential run in 1980. Edward (Ted) Kennedy was the youngest of the nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. When his older brother John Kennedy was elected to the presidency in 1960, Ted won the special election to fill his brother’s seat as one of the U.S. senators from Massachusetts. Ted would go on to serve as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts from 1962-2009.

His one and only bid for the presidency took place in 1980. Although Kennedy had been asked to run before, an accident he was involved in on July 18, 1969 on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts cast shadows on his ability to adequately represent the nation’s constituents morally. Regardless, then President Carter’s approval ratings were low and the Kennedy family felt that they had a chance to win the Democratic Party nomination. Early polls showed Kennedy ahead but Carter’s approval ratings improved upon his calm handling of the hostage situation at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Although Carter’s overall approval was diminished because he was not able to get the hostages released, Kennedy contributed to his own downfall. In an interview with CBS reporter Roger Mudd, Kennedy was unable to provide a definitive answer as to why he was running for the presidency. While he won major primaries in the states of New Jersey and California, Ted Kennedy was unable to win enough votes to secure the nomination.

Black and white photograph in teh center of the button with red above and blue below with white text

When incumbent President Jimmy Carter's approval ratings were very low at the end of his first term in 1980, some members of the Democratic Party considered it necessary to challenge him during the primary elections. Massachusetts Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy decided to finally make a run for the presidency, following his brothers John and Robert. 

The 1980 Democratic National Convention, held in August at Madison Square Garden, was notable for the rivalry between Carter and Kennedy. Although Carter had maintained a substantial lead throughout the primary elections, Kennedy refused to drop out of the race. At the convention, Kennedy attempted to have delegates released from their obligation to vote for Carter, but was unsuccessful. Carter went on to lose in the general election to the Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan. 

White button with red outlined text and blue text. 

In the 1980 presidential election, Ted Kennedy ran the last presidential campaign by a Kennedy, following Robert Kennedy's campaign in 1968 and John F. Kennedy's election in 1960. Kennedy was opposing the incumbent candidate Jimmy Carter, who suffered from a low approval rating entering into the race. Kennedy's campaign benefited from Carter's unpopularity, but lacked organization and a cohesive platform, eventually leading to his concession from the race in August of 1980. However, Kennedy successfully carried several states leading up to the Democratic Primary, demonstrating the lack of confidence in Carter from the Democratic Party that foreshadowed his eventually defeat in a landslide to Ronald Reagan. Despite his ultimately unsuccessful candidacy, Kennedy's concession speech entitled, "The Dream Shall Never Die," is considered to be one of the highlights of his career and a defining moment for the modern Democratic Party.

Black button with gold writing and gold stars and stripes. 

Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole was a Republican Congressman from Kansas 1961 to 1969 and senator from 1969 to 1996. While he was a Senator, Dole set the record as the longest-serving Republican leader and is known for passing legislation to make food stamps more available. He ran for vice presidential nominee in the 1976 election and entered the 1996 U.S. Presidential election; however, he did not win the election in either race. This token is from one of Dole’s many elections for public office.

White text on a blue background.

9/1/17 - you can delete this note after research is done --> Possible connection to song by David Johansen? Joel thinks the button may be older than 1970s though.