Illustration of a black asterisk on a white background.

This design was created by artist David Shrigley for the Fall 2004 Button-O-Matic series by Busy Beaver Button Co. David Shrigley (b. September 17, 1968) is a British visual artist best known for his bizarrely humorous cartoons and a deliberately crude, outsider art style. A 2010 interview with Time Out London describes Shrigley's art as "tragicomic", which "takes a darkly sardonic mirror to his everyday thoughts, decisions, and problems".

Full color portrait illustration of FDR

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd US President. He was the only president to serve more than 2 terms, from 1933-1945, was a central US figure during the Great Depression and World War II.

White text on greyscale background to the right of an image of George McGovern in suit and tie.

Produced in support of George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign, this button captures the optimism and energy that was the essence of the McGovern campaign.

An American historian and author, McGovern was elected to the Senate 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. McGovern's "demogrant" program was dropped from his platform in August of that year after it was severely criticized as a "liberal giveaway." 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.

A black and white image of a close-up of an eagle crying facing sightly to the left. The word "VOTE" is in all capital white letters with the "O" in Vote as a symbol of the American flag. The entire background of the button is black.

The image on this button was designed by McQ Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana. The company was founded by Robert McQuade who was an advertising agent who wanted to encourage a large voter turnout.  The company created many items with vote logos on them like this button and interestingly, a record by The Fourth Room titled Vote that uses the same image. "You Better Do Right" is the B-side instrumental song  written by the American jingle writer Ed Labunski and Jerry Friedman. The record was released on McQ Records in Indianapolis Indiana in 1971.

The image of the eagle with a tear represents the pain the country felt over the Vietnam War and to appeal to older patriotic Americans. While the image on the other button in the Button Museum’s collection of a butterfly represents peace and freedom and was meant to appeal to “free spirited youth”.

Olsen, J. (2006). Non-Partisan Get-Out-The-Vote Items. The Keynoter, 2006(3), 18-31.

White text on a blue background

Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States and served from 1923 to 1929. He became president on August 3, 1923, when 29th President Warren G. Harding died of a heart attack. Coolidge served only one full term. It is often stated that President Coolidge was known more for what he did not do for the country, than what he did. During his presidency, the nation was in the midst of the roaring twenties and the economy was booming; it was shortly after Coolidge retired that the Great Depression struck.

 Bold white text centered on a bright red background.

This button attempted to raise awareness for Gerald Ford's WIN (Whip Inflation Now) campaign. In the last years of the Nixon presidency, and continuing on into the Ford administration, America's economy suffered three inflationary 'shocks'—rising food prices, rising energy prices, and the end of the Nixon wage-price controls program. Consequently, the US underwent double digit inflation between 1974 and 1976. 

The WIN campaign began in 1974, when Ford addressed to the National Commission on Inflation, urging both public and private action to curb supply and demand. In a speech to Congress on October 8th, 1974, Ford declared inflation "public enemy number one," and proceeded to argue for a series of proposals that would curb supply and demand, effectually bringing inflation under control. 

Unfortunately for Ford, the general public did not embrace the "WIN" campaign. Many skeptics wore the pin upside down, explaining that "NIM" stood for "No Immediate Miracles," or "Nonstop Inflation Merry-go-round," or "Need Immediate Money." 

Black and white photograph of Stevenson above white text printed on a black background.

Adlai Stevenson II was the 31st Governor of Illinois. He twice received the Democratic nomination for President of the United States—1952 and 1956—however he was defeated by President Dwight Eisenhower in both elections.  

Bold blue text centered on a white background

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Blue text on grey background.

The White House is where the President of the United States of America lives and works. Public tours of the White House, which is located in Washington, D.C., are offered almost every day of the week and can be requested through members of Congress. This button is presumably a souvenir from one such tour.  

Black lettering with white drop shadows on an orange background.

Senator Robert Alphonso Taft, son of President William Howard Taft, was a three term Republican US Senator from Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was known for being financially conservative, but opposed prohibition, the Ku Klux Klan and World War II, which cost him political support. He sought the presidential office three times, but lost his final GOP presidential nomination to President Eisenhower in 1952. Taft became majority leader in the Senate in 1953 but, soon after, died from cancer.

The museum has two versions of this button, the 4 inch litho described above and a 3 1/2 inch cello version shown in the second set of images above.