Blue button with black panther in the center. 

In 1966 Huey Newton and Bobby Seale formed a Black Power, Socialist organization in Oakland, California. They called their group the Black Panther Party and their symbol was a pouncing black panther. Members organized armed patrols to monitor the police and cut down on police brutality. They also established and ran free breakfast programs for school children. This button was not actually used by the Black Panthers, although the panther looks like the panther on many of their buttons. It was made for the movie Born on the 4th of July (1989) to be worn by actors in a protest scene. Born on the 4th of July is based on the autobiography of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovak who was paralyzed in the Vietnam War and, after returning home, became an antiwar activist.

White and pink text on a black button.

Apartheid was a system of complete racial segregation in South Africa from 1948-1994, which allowed the white minority to maintain control. Black South Africans were forced to carry special documents to enter restricted areas and, in 1970, they lost the right to vote. Some American businesses began to cut off trade with and investment in South African businesses in the mid 1970s. In the 1980s images of the struggles to end Apartheid in South Africa influenced many Americans to protest and demand economic boycotts of South Africa. There were protests on College campuses in the United States to divest from South Africa and in 1986 a bill came before Congress for the same purpose. Reagan vetoed the bill, but the Senate overrode his veto.

The Churches' Emergency Committee on Southern Africa (C.E.C.S.A.) was formed in 1986 and asked banks with loans to South Africa not to renew them as a way of protesting apartheid. They also lobbied the U.S. government to place economic sanctions on South Africa. This button was a part of their efforts.

Navy blue text and blue stars around it on a gold background

Adlai Stevenson II ran for President in 1952 and 1956 and lost to President Eisenhower both times. This button was made for the 1960 presidential primary and was given out at voting drives and political conventions. Stevenson refused to campaign for the nomination a third time, but announced that he would accept if the Democratic Party offered it to him. He had many supporters who campaigned for him, including Eleanor Roosevelt, but he lost to John F. Kennedy in the primary.

White text on a red white and blue button with blue stars and a black and white photograph of McGovern in the center.

An American historian and author, George McGovern was elected as a US Senator from South Dakota in 1962 after a previous failed bid in 1960. As one of the first politicians to speak out publicly against America's growing involvement in Vietnam, McGovern would become most known in the Senate for his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War. McGovern's platform during his 1972 presidential campaign included a comprehensive plan to end the war in Vietnam, a substantial cut in federal defense spending, and a "demogrant" program—which sought to replace inflated welfare bureaucracies with a pledge to give every American citizen $1,000. Although McGovern captured the votes of activists and reform liberals, his opponent, Republican incumbent Richard Nixon, managed to defeat McGovern in one of the biggest landslides in American history.

Red button with white text. The "O" in McGovern is the Venus symbol with an "=" sign in the middle. 

An American historian and author, George McGovern was elected as a US Senator from South Dakota in 1962 after a previous failed bid in 1960. As one of the first politicians to speak out publicly against America's growing involvement in Vietnam, McGovern would become most known in the Senate for his outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War. McGovern's platform during his 1972 presidential campaign included a comprehensive plan to end the war in Vietnam, a substantial cut in federal defense spending, and a "demogrant" program—which sought to replace inflated welfare bureaucracies with a pledge to give every American citizen $1,000. Although McGovern captured the votes of activists and reform liberals, his opponent, Republican incumbent Richard Nixon, managed to defeat McGovern in one of the biggest landslides in American history.

On this button, the “o” in “McGovern” is replaced with the symbol of supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ensure equal rights for women. The platform of McGovern’s 1972 presidential bid included support for the amendment.

A photograph of Jessie Jackson is above red text on a white button. 

Jesse Jackson ran for the Democratic nomination for President in 1984 and 1988 and was the second African American man to run, but the first viable African American candidate. He was active in the Civil Rights movement and worked for SCLC with Martin Luther King, Jr.  In 1971, after leaving SCLC, he formed PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) and in 1984 he formed the Rainbow Coalition to fight for civil rights for minorities, women, and homosexuals. These two groups became his political base and were merged in 1996.

Black button with orange and black text and an orange stripe. 

Elmer J. Hoffman was elected Illinois State Treasurer in 1952 and reelected in 1956. Hoffman went on to serve three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1959-1965. He used the slogan, "I'm Fer Elmer", for all of his campaigns. This button is likely from one of his Congressional campaigns.

In 1967, Elmer Johnson ran for mayor of Wheaton, Illinois using the same slogan. Hoffman, who was also residing in Wheaton at the time, did not approve of Johnson's use of the slogan and publicly spoke out against it.

Blue button with orange text and orange elephant Republican symbol. 

This button is likely from a campaign of Timothy M. Hensel, a Republican from Indiana. In 2002, he ran for a seat on the Clay Township Board in Hamilton County, Indiana. In 2006, he was elected as the Lady Hamilton Precinct Committeeman for the Republican party.

Neon Orange with black text (in simplified Chinese).

This button translates  to “Good people need Carter.” As part of Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, buttons like this were minted in several languages.

Neon orange button with black text in Italian reading "Good people need Carter."

This button translates from Italian to “Good people need Carter”. As part of Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign, buttons like this were minted in several languages.