Red text and a white star on a black background

This button was for Adlai Stevenson III's campaign for Illinois governor in 1986. Stevenson ran as a Solidarity Party candidate to offer an alternative to the Democratic slate of candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state. He lost the election to James R. Thompson, a Republican. Stevenson had run as a Democrat for Illinois governor in 1982, also against Thompson, but lost by 0.14 percent and asked for a recount. The Illinois Supreme Court voted against a recount, thereby making Thompson governor.

Stevenson was the Illinois Treasurer from 1967-1970 and U.S. Senator from 1970-1981. He is the son of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II, who lost the U.S. presidential election to Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

Illustration of a black building with a nuclear symbol on it and a white cloud coming out of it with black text inside on a blue background

This button was worn by anti-nuclear protesters following the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island (Pennsylvania) nuclear power plant in 1979. The Three Mile Island meltdown, which happened on March 28, 1979, is considered the worst commercial nuclear accident ever in the United States. The accident and subsequent repercussions gave credibility to some of the claims of the anti-nuclear movement that had emerged during the late 1960s following the commercialization of nuclear energy.

For months following the partial meltdown, protesters held anti-nuclear demonstrations all around the country. The largest demonstration occurred in New York City in September, 1979, and attracted over 200,000 people. A series of “No Nukes” concerts held at Madison Square Garden accompanied the demonstration. The reference to cows on this button is an allusion to claims that herds of cows developed severe radiation poisoning immediately following the accident. 

The button was designed by Carter Wentworth and was originally created for the Greenfield, Massachusetts group Alternative Energy Committee of Franklin County in 1976. According to Donnelly/Colt it was one of the most popular buttons of the anti-nuclear movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Black text on a pink and white illustration of an American flag

1994 marked the beginning of Dawn Netsch’s campaign for the governorship of the state of Illinois. Originally a professor of law at Northwestern University, Netsch had been elected to the State Senate in 1972, and in 1990 became comptroller of Illnois. In 1994, Netsch ran to be governor, being the first woman to be nominated by a major political party in an Illinois gubernatorial race, and quickly rose to popularity for her straightforward television commercials. Her platform of raising the income tax rate to pay for education was attacked by her opponent, Republican Jim Edgar, causing her to lose the election. After the campaign, Netsch continued both in politics and as a professor, and was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1995 for her support of the LGBT community.

Dawn Clark Netsch. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2015 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Clark_Netsch.

Color photograph of Bill and Hillary Clinton on a black background

Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993. Clinton was the first Democrat to be elected as President since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and is considered the first post-Cold War president. Clinton and his running mate Al Gore defeated incumbent president George H. W. Bush, winning 43% of the vote against Bush’s 37.4% and independent Ross Perot’s 18.9%. Clinton was considered a fresh and hopeful alternative to Bush, whose approval ratings went from nearly 90% during the Gulf War, down to below 50% by the end of 1991.

Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton's wife, is credited by some as saving her husband's 1992 presidential campaign when she appeared with him on the television show 60 Minutes, following accusations of an extramarital affair between Bill Clinton and an Arkansas singer. Hillary Clinton, a lawyer, was the first First Lady to hold a postgraduate degree and have a successful professional carerer prior to moving into the White House. Following the inauguration, she was an integral part of her husband's inner circle, and is historically considered one of the most empowered First Ladies. 

White text on a blue background

James Flint, a Chicago based businessman and founder and owner of Miss Gay Continental Pageant (a national contest for female impersonators) ran for Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1987.  Flint, a long time supporter of the Democratic Party was also involved in organizations such as the 46th Ward Democratic Organization, International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, the Rainbow Coalition, and many others.  Flint lost the elections but still is viewed as a valuable asset and supporter to the Gay and Lesbian community.

Color photograph of Bill Clinton and Al Gore in front of the White House with black text at the top and white text at the bottom

Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993. Clinton was the first Democrat to be elected as President since Jimmy Carter in 1976, and is considered the first post-Cold War president. Clinton and his running mate Al Gore defeated incumbent president George H. W. Bush, winning 43% of the vote against Bush’s 37.4% and independent Ross Perot’s 18.9%. 

Many attribute Clinton’s natural charisma, coupled with his informal but focused campaign, to his victory. His saxophone-playing appearance on the late night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show is seen as a turning point in his campaign, garnering him support among both minority and young voters. Clinton was considered a fresh and hopeful alternative to Bush, whose approval ratings went from nearly 90% during the Gulf War, down to below 50% by the end of 1991. 

Blue and red text on a white background with red stripes in the upper left and a blue area on the bottom left with white stars on it.

This is a promotional button for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) from the 1970s. The saying on the button is a reference to a New York Times article which called for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to be nominated for President. This button may have been related to a larger promotional campaign for the CSO. In 1976, under the direction of conductor Sir Georg Solti, the orchestra was featured on a 39-week nationally syndicated radio program. The series, sponsored by Amoco and produced by Chicago radio station WFMT, aimed to fulfill an increasing demand for more classical music programming on the radio.

Yellow, black, and red text on a white background and a camera lens

The phrase, "Surprise! You're on Candid Camera!" was the catchphrase of the show Candid Camera, which ran on television from 1948 until 2014 with various networks picking up the program. Prior to television, the program was a radio show called Candid Microphone. The premise was to catch people in practical jokes or unaware that they were being recorded. The image displayed here on the "candid button" appears to be both an eye and a camera borrowing on the common theme of hidden spyware for joking purposes.

Creative House Productions Inc. originated in 1964 and was a design and manufacturing company based in Chicago, Illinois. It was responsible for the creation of many promotional comic pins found in gumball machines and Cracker Jack boxes. Creative House eventually created the brand PinMart, which became the first website to sell lapel pins. PinMart eventually outgrew its parent company and bought Creative House in 2008.

Red text on a white background

Richard Nixon was a politician from the state of California.  He served  first in the House of Representatives between 1947 and 1950 and then as a U.S. Senator from 1950-1953.  Nixon was selected by Dwight D. Eisenhower to be his Vice President running mate during Eisenhower's campaign for President.  He would later go on to serve two terms as Vice President during the Eisenhower Administration.

Nixon, himself, ran for President of the United States in 1960 election against Democratic nominee, John F. Kennedy, which Nixon lost by a narrow 0.2% of the popular vote.  By the 1968 election, Nixon had decided to run again as the Republican candidate against Democratic nominee, Hubert Humphrey, President Johnson's Vice President.  Nixon went on to win the election, becoming the 37th President of the United States.  In 1972, he ran for a second term as President, winning the election by a 60% margin of the popular vote, defeating Democratic candidate, George McGovern.  Due to the Watergate scandal that ensued during the following years, Nixon became the first President to resign from office, doing so in 1974.

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Wearing Badges is not Enough is the final line from the 1985 Billy Bragg single “Days Like These” that urges listeners to get involved with political activism rather than remaining on the sidelines. Born in 1957, Bragg is an English songwriter, guitarist, and throughout his musical career he has been a vocal supporter of progressive left-wing policies and grassroots movements.