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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.

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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.

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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.  

Back text printed to the right of a photograph of Senator Ted Kennedy. 

In 1972, despite several public statements that he would not run for President of the United States, Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy was considered the favorite for the Democratic nomination. He did not campaign for the office and eventually the Democratic presidential nomination was won by Senator George McGovern of South Dakota. McGovern lost the general election to President Richard Nixon.

Ted Kennedy was the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and was a longtime US Senator from Massachusetts.  He passed away in 2009 after a battle with brain cancer.   

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This is a pro-Gerald Ford button from the 1976 United States presidential campaign in which Jimmy Carter, the former govermer of Georgia, ousted Ford from the White House. Gerald Ford served as the 38th President of the United States from 1974 to 1977, following President Richard Nixon's resignation from office. He is the only person to serve as both the Vice President and President without wining the Electoral College vote. 

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This button refers to a statement made by Senator Henry Ashurst of Arizona about his feelings on voting for the Republican candidate, Wendell Willkie, in the 1940 presidential election. Ashurst had previously backed a proposed constitutional amendment limiting presidents to one six-year term. However, when President Roosevelt was nominated to run for a third term in office, Ashurst supported him.  

Bold white text with a black outline is printed over a red illustration of the state of Illinois, on a black background.

Charles Wayland Brooks (1897-1957) was a United States senator from Illinois. Brooks was elected in 1940 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator J. Hamilton Lewis, and was re-elected in 1942. After an unsuccessful bid for re-election in 1948, he practiced law until his death. Brooks also served as a first lieutenant in the Marines during World War I.