A large blue letter N on the left of the button starts the word Nixon and the word November. There is a black and white photograph of a man in a suit above blue text with red text underneath all on a white background.

This button was for Richard M. Nixon's campaign for U.S. president in 1960. Nixon had served as U.S. senator from California (1950-53) and as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower (1953-61). Yet he lost the 1960 election to John F. Kennedy. Though the popular vote tally was close, Kennedy won with 303 electoral votes to 219 for Nixon.

The 1960 U.S. presidential election was noted for being the first with live televised debates. To some listening on radio, Nixon seemed to have won the debate. Yet many watching it on television had a different impression, since Kennedy appeared cool and collected while Nixon, who had been ill and did not wear television make-up, looked uncomfortable. Nixon won the 1968 presidential election and was re-elected in 1972, resigning in the wake of the Watergate scandal in 1974.

Red white and blue striped background with blue text over the white stripe

Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. ran as the Republican presidential ticket for the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. This was Nixon’s first run to become President after serving as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 1960 election was the first year the presidential debates were televised. For the first time, a candidate’s appearance was critically judged along with their policy. Those listening to the debates on the radio thought Nixon won because he was a great orator; however, those watching the television thought Kennedy won as Nixon looked sickly and pale compared to Kennedy’s youthful, photogenic appearance. Nixon and Lodge lost the election by a narrow margin.

Black text on a bluish-white background.

At the 1960 Republican Convention, there were several candidates to be Richard M. Nixon's running mate. This button supported the nomination of Walter H. Judd, a congressman from Minnesota. However, Henry Cabot Lodge, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was selected to run with Nixon, who was then vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. Though the popular vote tally was close, Kennedy and Johnson won with 303 electoral votes to 219 for Nixon and Lodge.

The 1960 U.S. presidential election was noted for being the first with live televised candidate debates. To some listening on radio, Nixon seemed to have won the debate. Yet many watching it on television had a different impression, since Kennedy appeared cool and collected while Nixon, who had been ill and did not wear television make-up, looked uncomfortable.

Red text on top of blue text on a white background.

Richard Nixon ran for president in 1968, nominating Spiro Agnew as his running mate. Nixon had first been Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, and had been preparing to run for the presidency for a second time after losing the 1960 election. In 1968 Nixon ran as a Republican against Democratic Hubert Humphrey, and promised voters that he would bring law and order back to the country and would help minorities start small businesses. He won by a small margin, with 43% of the votes, and was inaugurated as 37th President of the United States.

Richard Nixon Presidential Campaign, 1968. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2015 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixon_presidential_campaign,_1968.

Black and white photograph of a man's head and white text on a black background

Richard Milhous Nixon was born January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California.  Nixon attended Whittier College and Duke University Law School.  Nixon and his wife, Pat, moved to Washington to work for the Office of Price Administration in 1942. Nixon was later elected to California's 12th congressional district in 1945 beginning his political career which would direct him to Dwight D. Eisenhower's choice for Vice President in the 1952 election.  After three terms as Vice President, Nixon decided to run for president.

Richard Nixon secured the Republican presidential candidacy for the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. Nixon lost the election in one of the closets races in history. Nixon returned to his role as vice president after the defeat and returned to California to practice law after his term ended only to run for Governor of California in 1962 against incumbent Pat Brown. Nixon lost to Brown by 5% of the vote.  In 1968, Nixon ran for President for the second time and finally won the presidency making him the 37th President of the United States serving from 1969 to 1974.  After the Watergate scandal, Nixon became the first president to resign from office.  Nixon's career ended after decades of service including service as a US Representative, Senator, 36th Vice President and President.

Red white and blue stripes with blue text on the white stripe

This button is from the 1960 Presidential election for candidate Richard Nixon (from CA).  Richard Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (from MA) ran as the Republican presidential and vice presidential contenders for the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. This was Nixon’s first attempt at the presidency after serving as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower.  

Nixon and Lodge lost the election in the closets race since 1969.  The Republican's secured 219 of the electoral college, carried 26 states, and 49.55% of the vote.  Kennedy secured .17% of the vote (112,827 actual votes) and became the next President of the United States.  Nixon was the first presidential candidate to win a majority of states but still lose the election.  Nixon returned to his role as vice president after the defeat and returned to California to practice law after his term ended.  

Top quarter of the button is red with white text, bottom quarter is blue and the middle of the button is white with blue text and a red line in the center.

Richard Nixon (from CA) and Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (from MA) ran as the Republican presidential ticket for the 1960 presidential election against John F. Kennedy. This was Nixon’s first attempt at the presidency after serving as Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower. The 22nd Amendment had been passed, making Eisenhower ineligible to run for a third term in office.  Also, this election was the first time residents of Hawaii and Alaska were allowed to vote being both states became an official part of the United States in 1959.  The 1960 election was also televised for the first time and the American people could judge a candidate for not only what they had to say but also for how they appeared.  Nixon was said to have looked sickly compared to the youthful Kennedy, but those listening to the debate favored Nixon for his speaking abilities.

Nixon and Lodge lost the election in the closets race since 1969.  The Republican's secured 219 of the electoral college, carried 26 states, and 49.55% of the vote.  Kennedy secured .17% of the vote (112,827 actual votes) and became the next President of the United States.  Nixon was the first presidential candidate to win a majority of states but still lose the election.  Nixon returned to his role as vice president after the defeat and returned to California to practice law after his term ended.  

Blue text on a white sunburst on a red background

This button was for Richard M. Nixon's campaign for U.S. president in 1960. Nixon had served as U.S. senator from California (1950-53) and as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower (1953-61). Yet he lost the 1960 election to John F. Kennedy. Though the popular vote tally was close, Kennedy won with 303 electoral votes to 219 for Nixon.

The 1960 U.S. presidential election was noted for being the first with live televised candidate debates. To some listening on radio, Nixon seemed to have won the debate. Yet many watching it on television had a different impression, since Kennedy appeared cool and collected while Nixon, who had been ill and did not wear television make-up, looked uncomfortable. Nixon won the 1968 presidential election and was re-elected in 1972, resigning in the wake of the Watergate scandal in 1974.

Blue text on a yellow background

Barry Goldwater was a United States Senator from Arizona who at the 1960 Republican National Convention removed himself as a contender for the upcoming presidential election.  After Richard Nixon successfully won the nomination from the Republican Party, Goldwater was a potential Vice-Presidential candidate before Nixon chose Senator Henry Lodge. 

In 1964, Goldwater won the Republican Party's presidential nomination for the election against Lyndon B. Johnson.  Goldwater and William Miller ran against Lyndon B. Johnson but lost the election, carrying only six states and 38% of the popular vote.

Gold text on a black background with a gold outer edge.

Designed to show the chemical formula for water, H₂O, in gold, this button was issued for Barry Goldwater, U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1953-1965 and 1969-1987. Running on a conservative platform, Goldwater was the Republican party's presidential nominee in 1964. In his acceptance speech, Goldwater paraphrased the Roman orator Cicero by saying "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue," a phrase for which Goldwater is remembered.

Goldwater and his running mate William E. Miller lost the election to incumbent president Lyndon Johnson and Hubert H. Humphrey. Johnson received 486 electoral votes, while Goldwater won only 52 and just six states.