Black and white photograph of Jimmy Carter kneeling down with two children, blue text around top edge and red text around bottom edge on a white background.

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter ran as the Democratic candidate for President in 1976. When Carter entered the Democratic Party presidential primaries that year, most believed he had little chance against nationally better-known politicians. His name recognition was only two percent! However, his strong political campaign led him to win the election. Carter served as President from 1977 to 1981. During his campaign, he was interviewed by Robert Scheer of Playboy and was the first, and so far only, American president to have been interviewed by the magazine.

Illustration of Jimmy Carter with green text on a white background.

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. ran for President in 1976.  He won the election a served for one term from 1977 to 1981. Carter was the first American President born in a hospital, and he was raised on his family's farm outside the small town of Plains, Georgia, in a house with no electricity or indoor plumbing. In 1953, Carter resigned from the Navy, where he had been working as an officer in the Navy's first experimental nuclear submarine, and returned to Georgia with his wife, Rosalynn, to run his family's peanut farm.

Color portrait of Jesse L. Jackson surrounded by green, black, and red text over white background.  

This button dates from Rev. Jesse L. Jackson's 1984 bid for US President. Jackson ran as a candidate of the Democrat Party and was the first African-American male to do so. He lost the nomination to former Vice President Walter F. Mondale and finished third in the tally, receiving over 18 percent of the votes and surprising pundits nationwide.  

Jackson was born Jesse Louis Burns in Greenville, SC. He was adopted by his mother's husband when he was one year old and took his step-father's surname. Jackson graduated from a historically black university, North Carolina A&T, in 1964 and attended Chicago Theological Seminary. Rather than completing his degree there, he chose to work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). SCLC was the civil rights organization led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, King personally selected Jackson to head the organization's Chicago branch. After a falling out with SCLC administration, Jackson created People United to Save Humanity (PUSH). PUSH focused on political activism and aimed to place political pressure on elected officials regarding civil rights issues. Jackson resigned as president of PUSH in 1984 in order to focus on his presidential campaign. During the campaign, Jackson formed the National Rainbow Coalition, which merged with PUSH in 1996.

A white button with a photograph of Jesse Ventura's face with black text above and below.

This is a political button in support of Jesse Ventura's possible 2000 presidential election bid. Jesse Ventura is a former U.S Navy Seal who served in the Vietnam War. His nickname "The Body" comes from his tenure in professional wrestling throughout the 1970s and 1980s. As he transitioned out of professional wrestling, he acted in films including Predator. In 1991, Ventura's political career began when he defeated the 25 year incumbent mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. In 1998, Ventura ran as a third-party candidate (Reform Party) in the Minnesota gubernatorial race and won. Self-described as "fiscally conservative" and "socially liberal," Ventura has been a political activist and commentator since he left the governor's office in 2002.  For example, he publicly supported Ron Paul for US President.

Yellow text over maroon background. 

John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972 at age 77. Late in life and after his death Hoover became a controversial figure, as evidence of his secretive actions became known. His critics have accused him of exceeding the jurisdiction of the FBI. He used the FBI to harass political dissenters and activists, to amass secret files on political leaders, and to collect evidence using illegal methods. Hoover consequently held a great deal of power and was in a position to intimidate and threaten sitting Presidents.

Black and white portrait of a man encircled by black border with yellowed text over yellowed background. 

This button is to commemorate the 25th president, William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901); the image is the official presidential portrait. President McKinley was assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz during his second term.

McKinley served from March 4, 1897 until his death on September 14, 1901, six months into the second term. His presidency was noted for victory in the Spanish-American War, economic prosperity, and maintaining the gold standard by rejecting inflationary proposals. McKinley was the last president to serve in the Civil War as a Union solider. After the war he settled in Canton, Ohio where he practiced law. McKinely was elected into congress in 1870 and became an expert in protective tariff for the Republican Party. His presidency was marked by economic growth due to policies that protected manufacturers and factory workers, a practice that ensured domestic production and employment.

In foreign policy, McKinley attempted to persuade Spain into granting independence to Cuba. However when Spain refused, a series of events occurred which caused a public outcry against Spain. The main incident was the destruction of US Navy Ship USS Maine when it was stationed in Havana, Cuba, and Spanish soldiers were held responsible for the act. The US declared war against Spain in response, and “remember the Maine” was a popular slogan during the war. The Spanish-American War was possibly a ploy to annex territories held by Spain. After the War, the United States was given Guam, Philippines, and Puerto Rico. Cuba was granted independence but under the control of US Army.

McKinley was greatly respected and viewed positively during his presidency. He was remembered for economic growth and territorial gains. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th president after McKinely’s passing.  

Black text over white background. 

Americans love throwing around the idea of impeaching their president and have been trying to impeach them since John Tyler (1790-1862).  A generation or so later, they finally got their first one with Andrew Johnson (1808-1875).  This pin suggest the impeachment of another Johnson, Lyndon B. (1908-1973).  Johnson assumed the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy (1917-1963).  

So the story goes, on the eve of Kennedy's assassination, Johnson was giving testimony about some questionable involvement.  First was with Texas business Billie Sol Estes, a Kennedy and Johnson supporter.  The second was with Bobby Baker, Johnson's former aide, who had allegedly been bribing Washington insiders with cash and arranging sexual favors.  Conspiracy theorists have proposed that Johnson's refusal to running for reelection in 1968 was because of his involvement in the Estes and Baker scandals.  Still other theorists have proposed the scandals were why Johnson had Kennedy assassinated.

Black and white photo of President Nixon on a blue background with white text. 

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.

Blue text between horizontal stripes of red and blue over white background. 

This button dates from the 1960 US Presidential campaign of Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) and Henry Cabot Lodge (1902-1985).  At the time of the campaign, Nixon was the US Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and Lodge was the US Ambassador to the UN.  Nixon and Lodge, Republicans, were opposed by the Democrats John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) and Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).  

Nixon and Lodge won the majority of the states, but Kennedy and Johnson received 303 of the 537 Electoral College votes.  Nixon and Lodge received only 219, which made Nixon 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.  

A white button with red and blue text

This button is for Dwight Eisenhower (Ike) and Richard M. Nixon (Dick). Eisenhower and Nixon ran on the Republican ticket and won in both 1952 and 1956. The eight year administration is considered some of the best of the 20th century. Eisenhower served in World War I and served as the Supreme Allied Commander in World War II. The popular slogan for the Eisenhower campaign was "I Like Ike." Due to Eisenhower's moderate stances, Nixon was an essential choice in order to rally all part of the Republican base together. Under Eisenhower, the interstate highway system was created, the quality of life for middle-class white Americans improved, and Alaska and Hawaii were added to the Union. Nixon devoted nearly his entire eight years to foreign policy affairs. His most famous event being an impromptu debate with Soviet Premiere Nikita Khrushchev in Moscow known as "The Kitchen Debate."