Red, white and blue striped background.  A white star is located in each of the red and blue stripes.  The larger white stripe in the middle with "IKE" in large blue text and "in 56" in smaller, italic red text.  

Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) was a beloved five star general during World War II and was elected the 34th President of the United States in November 1952. He served two terms as president, from January 20, 1953 to January 20, 1961, during which he is remembered for bringing peace to Korea and easing tensions caused by the Cold War. This button dates from his reelection campaign.   

Eisenhower is often remembered for his final address to the nation and his warnings against too many ties between the government and military organizations, also known as the Military-Industrial Complex. During his time in the White House, Alaska and Hawaii became states, and both NASA and the Interstate Highway System were created. A 2009 C-SPAN survey of presidential leadership ranked Eisenhower in the top eight of the first 42 U.S. Presidents.

Red top, white center with blue text, and blue bottom.

This button is in support of Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike)'s campaign for President of the United States, and features his popular campaign slogan. Prior to running for President, Eisenhower served in the military during both World War I and World War II. Eisenhower and and his running mate Richard Nixon ran on the Republican ticket and won in both 1952 and 1956. Their eight years in office are considered by many to be some of the best years of the 20th century. Under Eisenhower, the interstate highway system was created, the quality of life for middle-class Americans improved, and Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states. 

Herriman color illustration of bald man with mustache holding baseball bat with black text on white background.

George Herriman (August 22, 1880 – April 25, 1944) was an American cartoonist best known for the comic strip Krazy Kat (1913–1944). In 1910, he created The Dingbat Family, later renamed The Family Upstairs, for The New York Evening Journal. The comic strip featured the adventures of an ordinary family dealing with their annoying upstairs neighbors. Herriman was the first to use the word "dingbat" to indicate a silly, empty-headed person. 

Two color oval photograph portraits at lower center with black text surrounding.  American flags at left and right edge, red banner at the top, with white text and black illustration of an eagle and shield at the bottom of the button, with a red ribbon with gold text attached to the back

On January 20^th 1981, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40^th president of the United States. The inauguration coincided with the ending of the Iran hostage crisis, which freed fifty-two American diplomats and citizens who had been confined for 444 days to the U.S. Embassy in Iran's capital, Tehran. The hostage crisis was a central focus of the presidential race, and negatively impacted President Jimmy Carter's chances of reelection. Mention of the hostage crisis was absent from the President Reagan's inauguration speech, however, which instead focused on limiting the powers of the Federal Government and bringing an end to unemployment and inflation. At 69, Reagan became the oldest man to assume Presidency.

Bold white text centered on a blue background

This quote is often attributed to American actor and comedian Will Rogers, however there is no definitive evidence that he actually said it. The expression suggests that money and foolishness—rather than political skill and aptitude—are the two qualities that will ensure a candidate's successful election. 

Red-Orange text printed as a border around an illustration of a turkey by Sandra Boynton.

Sandra Boynton was born in 1953 and is an American artist and humorist. She has designed over four thousand greeting cards as well as dozens of books and children's books. She has also received many awards for her work in film and music.

Bold navy blue text centered on a white background

This is an anti-Reagan campaign button, most likely from the 1984 campaign against former Vice President Walter Mondale.  President Ronald Reagan served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981-1989. After becoming famous by acting in 53 Hollywood films, Reagan entered politics as a conservative in the 1960s. He was first elected to Governor of California in 1966 and then later campaigned for the 1980 presidential election. President Reagan and his running-mate, Vice President George H. W. Bush, beat President Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory. Running as the incumbents in 1984, Reagan and Bush won 49 out of 50 states against Mondale. Reagan is remembered for his fiscal policies, also known as  “Reaganomics,” and is often referenced as a hero-figure by today’s Republican party.  

Black and white photograph of Betty Ford, bordered by white text printed on a red background.

First Lady Elizabeth (Betty) Ford was married to President Gerald Ford who took over the White House after President Nixon resigned. Gerald Ford served as president from 1974 to 1977, when he lost re-election to Jimmy Carter. Betty Ford was a breast cancer survivor and one of the first First Ladies to allow her medical condition to be open to the public. She is credited with raising awareness of the disease and donating thousands to the American Cancer Society.  

Most of all, Betty Ford is remembered for her efforts to treat drug and alcohol addiction with the founding of the Betty Ford Center. Ford suffered from both alcohol and prescription drug addiction after she left the White House and, while receiving treatment, she was made aware of the need for women-centered rehabilitation centers. The Betty Ford Center opened in 1982 and Mrs. Ford served as Chairman of the Board until 2005.  

Photograph of John F. Kennedy with black text underneath.  White text on black background.

With tensions between the USSR and America only escalating, the election of 1960 had broad implications for the shape and direction of the Cold War. The election pitted a young, charismatic leader from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, against Richard Nixon, the former vice president.

The Nixon-Kennedy debates were the first presidential debates to ever be broadcast on television. Although Kennedy was initially perceived by voters as too immature for the White House because of his age, in the debates he appeared sharp and focused. Nixon, alternatively, had just recovered from a knee injury while in a nearby hospital. Wearing a grey suit in the first debate, Nixon blended into the grey studio backdrop. Kennedy stared directly into the cameras, while Nixon, in traditional debate fashion, looked at Kennedy when he answered the moderators' questions or delivered his counter-arguments.

Although Nixon faired better in the last two debates, historians generally agree that Kennedy's performance in the first debate substantively shaped the outcome of the election. It was close. JFK won the popular vote by a mere 118,000 votes. Kennedy's strongholds in industrial and urban areas helped him carry the necessary electoral college votes to victory.

Bold green text on a white background with a bright blue border

Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr (H.H.H.) served as the 38th Vice President under President Lyndon B. Johnson, from 1965 to 1969. Humphrey began the 1968 presidential campaign as Johnson’s running mate, but when it appeared that primary would not end in Johnson’s favor, Humphrey challenged Johnson for the Democratic ticket. Humphrey won the nomination however, President Nixon eventually won the general election.