ALFRED M. LANDON & FRANK KNOX (R) 1936 - For President & Vice President (Nominees) - 7/8" - Litho with a yellow flannel sunflower.

Kansas Governor Alf Landon used the sunflower as his symbol throughout the 1936 Presidential campaign. Landon, a wealthy oil/gas and radio executive, was narrowly elected Governor in 1932 over the incumbent -- thus becoming the only GOP statewide candidate in the entire nation that year to overcome the national Democratic sweep and defeat an incumbent Democrat. Landon won re-election in 1934 by a comfortable margin befoire launching his 1936 Presidential campaign. Strongly backed by the business community and GOP establishment, the conservative Landon campaigned against President Roosevelt on an isolationist and anti-New Deal platform. After Landon won the nomination on the first ballot with 98% of the vote, the delegates selected 1936 Presidential primary hopeful and Chicago Daily News publisher Col. Frank Knox as the VP runningmate. Scientific political polling -- then in its earliest years -- was highly inaccurate as the leading national polls predicted a huge Landon victory. On election day, FDR defeated Landon by a 61% to 37% landslide vote -- with Landon carrying only Maine and Vermont. Landon, who died in 1987 at age 100, never again ran for political office. Knox went on to serve in FDR's Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy from 1940 until Knox's death in 1944. Landon's daughter, Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R), served as a US Senator from Kansas in 1978-96. A great-looking, authentic Landon-Knox button.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON & HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (D) 1964 - For President & Vice President (Won) - 1" - Litho. Condition: slight litho scratches as shown.

President Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded to office upon the assassination of President Kennedy, faced a surprisingly easy election campaign in 1964. Touting their "Great Society" social programs, support for civil rights laws and promising peace in Vietnam, the Democratic ticket of Johnson & Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey rolled to a landslide victory over conservative Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater (R). LBJ defeated Goldwater in a massive 61% to 38% landslide. This nice labor-related picture pin -- with union bugs printed on the edge -- was issued by the AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education (COPE).

JIMMY CARTER (D) 1976 - For President (Won) - 1 1/8" - Litho.

This is the original campaign button used when obscure peanut farmer and former Georgia Governor Carter -- "Jimmy Who?" -- first launched his campaign for President. Running a well-planned campaign with an effective field organization and a post-Watergate message of "I'll never lie to you," Carter surprised the pundits and won the Iowa caucus. Primary victories in New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania forced his most serious rivals from the race. A late "Stop Carter" campaign from California Governor Jerry Brown also fell far short. In the end, Carter won the nomination and defeated incumbent President Gerald Ford (R) in the general election by a vote of 50% to 48%.

DWIGHT D. "IKE" EISENHOWER (R) 1952 - For President (Won) - 7/8" - Litho.

In 1952, both parties tried to draft retired 5-star Army General "Ike" Eisenhower for President. Ultimately, Ike decided to run as a Republican -- and defeated conservative Senate GOP leader Bob Taft for the nomination. As the slogan on this very well-known button suggested, Americans clearly liked Ike. Eisenhower was easily elected President over Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson (D) in a 55%-44% vote. A classic campaign button.

JERRY BROWN (D) 1992 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

California Governor Jerry Brown first splashed onto the national scene in 1976, when he launched a late "Stop Carter" bid for the Presidential nomination that won him a few important state primaries. After winning re-election in 1978, Brown was back running for President again -- although now derided in political circles as "Governor Moonbeam" for his sometimes eccentric behavior and comments. Unfortunately for Brown, Ted Kennedy -- not Brown -- was quickly seen as President Carter's chief rival for the nomination. Brown finished a distant third in the New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin primaries before ending his campaign. After losing a US Senate race in 1982, Brown disappeared from the national political scene for several years. Brown -- now denouncing the role of money in politics -- made a third gadfly run for President in 1992. Wearing turtlenecks and touting his 1-800-number during the debates, Brown's cynical and populist "We the People" campaign outlasted Paul Tsongas, Bob Kerrey, Tom Harkin and others to become Bill Clinton's most durable opponent for the nomination. Clinton finally clinched the nomination with a decisive win over Brown in the New York primary. After becoming a radio talk show host, Brown switched his registration to Independent in 1997 and was elected Mayor of Oakland in 1998. This official Brown button has a campaign disclaimer printed on the edge.

JACK F. KEMP (R) 1988 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 2¼" - Litho.

Former pro football quarterback Jack Kemp (R-NY) parlayed his sports fame and conservative views into a successful political career. Elected to Congress in 1970, the energetic Kemp quickly became a spokesman in the 1970s for supply side economics and other fiscal plans that eventually came to be known as "Reaganomics." An early Reagan supporter, Kemp wanted to be the Vice Presidential nominee in 1980 -- but the nod went to George Bush. In 1988 -- portraying himself as the "ideological heir to Ronald Reagan" -- Kemp ran for President against Bush, Bob Dole, Pat Robertson and others. Largely bypassing Iowa, the anti-tax Kemp made New Hampshire his main battleground -- and finished a distant third place with just 13%. Days later, he finished fourth in South Carolina with only 11%. A realist, Kemp quickly ended his campaign. Kemp later served as Secretary of Housing & Urban Development during the Bush Administration -- and was credited with encouraging private home ownership opportunities for low income families and pioneering a serious GOP outreach effort into the black community. After heading up a conservative organization for much of the 1990s, Kemp was selected by Bob Dole as the GOP nominee for Vice President in 1996. This handsome button carries an official campaign disclaimer printed on the edge.

HAROLD E. STASSEN (R) 1980 - For President (Lost) - 2¼" - Litho.

Governor Harold Stassen was the "Energizer Bunny" of US politics: he kept running and running. He earned a unique distinction: he ran for President in nearly 20% of all the Presidential elections held in US history. That's right: Stassen ran for President an astounding 10 times -- starting in 1944. Stassen was only 31 when he was first elected Minnesota Governor in 1938 (defeating the incumbent by a an amazing 26% margin). He was twice re-elected before making his first run for the White House. He would never again win another election. In 1948, running as a staunch anti-communist, Stassen was Governor Thomas Dewey's most significant rival for the GOP nomination. Stassen ultimately finished a strong second place at the 1948 convention. His last serious run for the GOP Presidential nomination was in 1952, when he finished the primaries in fourth place and garnered nearly 900,000 votes. This official button is from Stassen's 1980 campaign for President (he won a combined total of just 25,000 votes in the 20 primaries he entered -- but he did beat Senator Bob Dole in 5 early primaries, including Florida and Massachusetts). In 1996, the 89-year-old Stassen puckishly asked Dole to select him for VP ... to highlight Dole's relative "youthfulness." In 1998, at age 91, Stassen briefly ran for Minnesota Governor again. It was to be his last run for office, as he died a year later.

GEORGE C. WALLACE (D) 1972 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1½" - Litho.

By 1972, populist Alabama Governor George Wallace was a major national political figure -- having made his reputation as a fiery opponent of integration, forced busing, and most liberal causes. After an impressive third party bid for President in 1968, Wallace ran for President as a Democrat in 1972. Wallace shocked the nation, convincingly and unexpectedly winning the Florida primary. Strong showings in the primaries in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and North Carolina made Wallace a frontrunner. While campaigning in Maryland in early May, Wallace was shot and left paralyzed in an assassination attempt. After the shooting -- although Wallace later won the Michigan and Maryland primaries -- he never recovered enough to make a real run at the nomination at the Democratic Convention. Wallace was re-elected Governor in 1974, ran for President again in 1976 and -- after a political hiatus and a series of emotional apologies to the black community for his former views on racial issues -- was returned to the Governorship again in 1982-86. He died in 1998. This nice picture pin was used in Wallace's 1972 campaign. An official campaign disclaimer is printed on the edge.

BARRY GOLDWATER (R) 1964 - For President (Nominee) - 7/8" - Celluloid.

Goldwater, known to many as "Mr. Republican" and the father of the Reagan Revolution, died in 1998. This nice button -- in his official gold & black campaign colors -- is from his 1964 campaign for President. Running as a staunch anti-communist, Goldwater renounced party moderates. Despite strong opposition for the GOP's centrist "Eastern Establishment," Goldwater defeated New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Pennsylvania Governor Bill Scranton for the GOP nomination. As a VP runningmate, Goldwater picked Republican National Chairman & Congressman Bill Miller (R-NY) -- a man even more conservative than Goldwater. President Lyndon Johnson smashed Goldwater in the general election, winning just over 61% of the vote. Goldwater returned to the US Senate four years later, serving until his retirement in 1986. Goldwater's uncompromisingly conservative 1964 campaign paved the way for the GOP ascendency in the 1980s and 1990s.

RICHARD NIXON & SPIRO AGNEW (R) 1968 - For President & Vice President (Won) - 3½" - Celluloid.

This nice Nixon/Agnew pin from the 1968 race features a photos of the successful '68 GOP ticket. In the primary campaign, centrist candidate Richard Nixon defeated liberal Nelson Rockefeller, conservative Ronald Reagan and others for the GOP nomination. After selecting obscure Maryland Governor Spiro "Ted" Agnew as his VP runningmate, Nixon ran a largely flawless campaign. In the end, Nixon narrowly defeated Vice President Hubert Humphrey (D) and former Alabama Governor George Wallace (American Independent). The vote: Nixon-43.4%, Humphrey-42.7%, Wallace-13.5%. This very large button also features a Teamsters union bug printed on the face (at 9 o'clock).

BILL CLINTON & AL GORE (D) 1992 - For President & Vice President (Won) - 1¾" - Celluloid.

After viewing the pin, there is not a lot to add about this nice-looking '92 Clinton-Gore item except to note that it bears the official general election campaign logo and is aimed at a female constituency (a group that remained among Clinton's strongest defenders throughout his Presidency). The pin was used at women's events during the fall campaign. The disclaimer on the edge indicates the pin was manufactured by a New York vendor.

RONALD REAGAN (R) 1980 - For President (Won) - 1½" - Litho.

This rare button was used during the 1980 general election campaign in Oregon. Locally produced, this official pin has a "Pd for by Reagan Comm., Salem, Ore" disclaimer on the edge. Running on a conservative message and a patriotic theme of "Let's Make America Great Again," Reagan captured the spirit of voters who were disillusioned after years of high inflation, high unemployment, the "oil crisis" and the Iranian Hostage crisis. In the end, Reagan carried 44 states and defeated President Carter by a 10% margin nationwide. As for Oregon, Reagan defeated Carter in the state by a 48% to 38% vote. A great addition to any serious Reagan collection.

GEORGE McGOVERN & TOM EAGLETON (D) 1972 - For President & Vice President (Nominees) - 1¾" - Celluloid.

This nice button features the only major party national nominee ever forced to quit the ticket before the general election. Liberal South Dakota Senator George McGovern's anti-Vietnam War campaign -- managed by a young Gary Hart and staffed largely by lots of peace activists and youth volunteers -- managed to defeat Democrats Ed Muskie, John Lindsay, Shirley Chisholm, Scoop Jackson, George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey and others for the nomination. The fiascos started at the convention. "Come Home America" -- emblazoned across this pin -- was the theme of McGovern's acceptance speech which he delivered after 1:00 a.m. Next, he couldn't find anyone to run with him for VP -- as a parade a party leaders declined the VP spot. Finally, he picked US Senator Tom Eagleton of Missouri as the Vice Presidential nominee. Sadly, Eagleton was forced to quit the ticket within a month of the convention after the media revealed allegations of hospitalizations for clinical depression and electro-shock therapy. In the end, McGovern and VP replacement nominee Sargent Shriver were no match for President Nixon -- losing 61%-38%. McGovern only carried one state: Massachusetts. McGovern, who remained in the US Senate until his 1980 re-election defeat, briefly made another run for President in 1988. Eagleton served in the Senate until his retirement in 1986. Produced for the campaign by a New York vendor immediately after the convention, this historic button is a "must have" for most serious collections.

DAVID DUKE (R-Louisiana) 1990 - For US Senator (Lost) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

White supremacist David Duke has been one of the more controversial figures on the fringes of GOP politics since the late 1980s. The former national leader of the Ku Klux Klan, Duke claimed in the late 1980s that he was "moderating" his views as he formally left the KKK to found the National Association for the Advancement of White People. Duke's purported moderation, however, seemed insincere as he continued to make "White Power" speeches and sell racist and anti-Semitic books from his home. In 1988, Duke ran for President with little notice as the nominee of the ultra-conservative Populist Party. When a State House seat came open in 1989, Duke joined the GOP and won the special election in a major upset -- even though local, state and national Republican leaders (including President Bush) openly denounced Duke as a racist who did not represent GOP views. Months after his election, Duke jumped into the race against incumbent US Senator Bennett Johnston (D-LA) -- even though the State GOP had already endorsed a challenger in the race. National media attention quickly propelled Duke into the position of being Johnston's main opponent -- and Duke used the opportunity to expand his fundraising lists, raising over $2.6 million nationwide. A charismatic demagogue, Duke's message of economic disenfranchisement struck a chord with many poor and middle-class white Louisiana voters during this period of recession. In order to help defeat Duke, the officially endorsed GOP candidate withdrew from the race and threw his support to Johnston. On election day, Johnston defeated Duke by a surprisingly close 54% to 44% vote. Duke immediately announced his candidacy for Governor in 1991 -- and finished second place in the open primary ahead of the incumbent GOP Governor and a GOP Congressman (although Duke eventually lost the run-off election to Democrat Edwin Edwards by a wide 61% to 39% margin). Duke briefly made a run for the GOP Presidential nomination in 1992, but quickly withdrew -- announcing that Buchanan had "stolen" much of his message. Duke tried for a comeback in a 1999 bid for Congress, but finished a close third in the special election primary. Duke may never win another election, but this very rare official button will always be a valuable and historic political artifact.

FRANK CHURCH (D) 1976 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1 3/8" - Litho.

Best known for chairing the US Senate's televised investigation into the CIA's activities around the world -- and possibly damaging American intelligence activities more than any person in US history -- Idaho Senator Senator Frank Church hoped to use this media fame and his liberal views to capture the White House in 1976. Unlike most other candidates in the race, Church did not enter any 1976 primary contests until May -- after Jimmy Carter had emerged as the frontrunner and several hopefuls had already quit the race. In his first major challenge, Church narrowly defeated Carter in the Nebraska primary. He followed that up with wins in three Western states -- but lost key contests in California, New Jersey and Ohio. Ultimately, he captured 830,000 votes in the primaries. Church eventually withdrew from the race before the convention. He was defeated for re-election in 1980 and died in 1984. An official campaign disclaimer is printed on the edge.

JESSE JACKSON (D) 1984 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1¼" - Litho.

Reverend Jesse Jackson, a long-time civil rights activist and former aide to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. -- had dabbled in politics in the past. He made a futile, independent bid for Chicago Mayor against incumbent Richard J. Daley in the early 1970s. By 1984, Jackson was leader of the Rainbow Coalition and much more interested in national issues like housing, health care, voting rights and education. A draft movement started in the black community prompted the liberal Jackson to enter the 1984 race. A gifted orator, he gained support when contrasted with more traditional and drab candidates like Walter Mondale, John Glenn, Gary Hart, Reuben Askew and the rest. Anti-Semitic controversies also dogged Jackson, as he refused to distance himself from supporter Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan -- and Jackson's own "Hymie-town" gaffe. Still, Jackson ran an aggressive, low-budget campaign -- winning two primaries (Louisiana & DC), capturing 3.3 million votes, and finishing third at the national convention. He made a second, stronger race for President in 1988 -- and his son, Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., looks ready to enter the 2004 race.

DAVID BERGLAND (LIBERTARIAN) 1984 - For President (Nominee) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

Bergland, a California attorney, is a long-time Libertarian Party activist. He authored the LP handbook Libertarianism in One Lesson, was the VP nominee in 1976, US Senate nominee in 1980 and served as National Chairman in 1977-81. He is also a leading figure in the more dogmatic, ideologically uncompromising faction within the LP. Bergland's 1984 campaign, ultimately, was a set-back for the party. He finished in third place with just 228,000 votes (0.25%) -- a total nearly 700,000 less than 1980 nominee Ed Clark and 200,000 less than 1988 nominee Ron Paul. In 1998, Bergland made a comeback within the party and was elected to serve another term as the LP National Chairman. Some minor dinks on the the reverse edge ... but nothing visible on the front. A great, official LP button!

DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-California) 1992 - For US Senate (Won) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

Dianne Feinstein, a former San Francisco Mayor and the unsuccessful 1990 Democratic nominee for Governor, was making a comeback bid when she issued this pin in 1992. Feinstein's opponent was GOP incumbent John Seymour, a moderate appointed to fill the vacancy caused when US Senator Pete Wilson was elected Governor (over Feinstein). The race wasn't close: Feinstein defeated the hapless Seymour in a lopsided 54%-38% landslide. After winning two easy re-election bids in vote-rich California, she is now being touted as a possible Presidential candidate in 2004. Official campaign disclaimer printed on the edge.

NELSON ROCKEFELLER (R) 1968 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1¾" - Celluloid.

Liberal New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller made his third and final run for President in 1968. While his 1960 exploratory campaign was very brief, his bitter 1964 nomination fight against conservative Barry Goldwater carried all the way to the GOP Convention. Rocky's 1968 campaign, however, was his strongest run. With the endorsement of many GOP Governors (including Claude Kirk of Florida & Spiro Agnew of Maryland), Rockefeller ran a spirited and well-financed campaign against frontrunner Richard Nixon. At the convention, Rocky against finished in second: Nixon-692, Rockefeller-277, Reagan-182, Others-182. In 1974, President Ford selected Governor Rockefeller to be Vice President. After winning Senate confirmation, he served as VP from 1974-77. At the 1976 GOP Convention -- under pressure from GOP conservatives -- Ford dropped Rockefeller from the GOP ticket. He died in 1979, having never held the one office he truly wanted.

DICK GEPHARDT (D) 1988 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1 5/8" - Litho.

Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt today serves as House Minority Leader and may someday become Speaker of the House. Back in 1988, however, Gephardt had his eye on the White House. With the strong support of labor unions and many of the powerful PACs, Gephardt was viewed as an early frontrunner for the 1988 Democratic nomination. Making a major push in the early Iowa Caucuses, Gephardt won with 31% -- versus Paul Simon at 27%, Mike Dukakis at 22%, Jesse Jackson at 9% and Bruce Babbitt, Al Gore and others further behind. In New Hampshire, Dukakis easily beat Gephardt by a 36% to 20% vote. As the race moved South, Gephardt made Florida and Texas his make-or-break states, spent heavily -- and lost the gamble. After finishing third in Florida and fourth in Texas on Super Tuesday, Gephardt withdrew from the race. Dukakis went on to win the nomination and lose the general election. Since then, he has risen up through the Democratic House leadership ranks -- passed on the opportunity to run for President again in 2000 -- and is now concentrating his efforts on winning Democratic control of the House in 2002. After that ... he may well another run for President. An official campaign disclaimer is printed on the edge of this primary campaign button.

EUGENE McCARTHY (D) 1968 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1 5/8" - Litho.

Minnesota Senator Gene McCarthy was an early and vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. He was known in Washington for his integrity, wit -- and professorial aloofness and speaking style. When pro-war President Lyndon Johnson decided to seek re-election in 1968, McCarthy decided to challenge him for the nomination after other more prominent Democrats passed on the race. With his army of liberal young students and hippies, McCarthy zealously battled LBJ in the New Hampshire primary. McCarthy's strong second place finish (only 8% behind Johnson) forced Johnson from the race. With Johnson out, New York Senator Robert Kennedy (anti-war) and Vice President Hubert Humphrey (pro-war) entered the race against McCarthy. While Humphrey chose to skip the primaries and let the party bosses deliver delegates to him, McCarthy and Kennedy battled in the primaries. McCarthy defeated RFK in contests in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Oregon and New Jersey and captured 2.9 million votes. Kennedy defeated McCarthy in the Nebraska, Indiana, South Dakota and California primaries -- before being assassinated on June 4, 1968. At the convention, Chicago police officers beat McCarthy anti-war supporters in the streets. McCarthy finished in second at the convention with 601 delegates -- far behind Humphrey's 1759 votes. This official pin features the classic McCarthy logo from 1968 and two union bugs printed on the edge.

DERRICK MORRISON (SOCIALIST WORKERS-NY) 1974 - For Governor (Nominee) - 1¾" - Celluloid.

Morrison, a Trotskyite political organizer, was one of several third party nominees running in the 1974 New York gubernatorial contest against incumbent Governor Malcolm Wilson (R) and Congressman Hugh Carey (D). Carey ultimately defeated Wilson by a 57% to 42% vote. Morrison -- unknown, espousing radical Marxist fringe views and with little money -- finished 5th place with just 0.2% of the vote. Regardless of his expectedly weak finish, this is a great, third party "locals" item!

WALTER "FRITZ" MONDALE (D) 1984 - For President (Nominee) - 1 3/8" - Litho.

After a spirited primary season fight against Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson, former Vice President Walter "Fritz" Mondale won the Democratic Presidential nomination. As Mondale constantly lagged behind President Reagan in the polls, the only real excitement of the campaign occurred when Mondale made history by selecting the first female runningmate on a major party ticket. His choice: three-term New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. Despite the initial excitement, the GOP's Reagan-Bush ticket destroyed Mondale-Ferraro in a 59%-41% landslide. Mondale only carried his home state of Minnesota. Mondale later served as Ambassador to Japan, before retiring. This item was the official pin during the early primary campaign.

GARY HART (D) 1984 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 3" x 2" - Celluloid.

Colorado Senator Gary Hart's "new ideas" campaign catapulted him from the back of the pack to first tier status early in the 1984 race. He scored a major upset, winning the New Hampshire primary over frontrunner and former Vice President Walter Mondale. Although Hart went on to win numerous other primaries (including many of the "Super Tuesday" states), arcane party delegate selection rules strongly favored Mondale -- as Hart finished in second place at the Democratic National Convention (1,200 delegates - 31%). Hart retired from the Senate in 1986 in order to concentrate on the 1988 Presidential race -- although womanizing problems in 1987 quickly derailed frontrunner Hart's second run. A sharp-looking button with an official campaign disclaimer printed on the edge.

WENDELL WILLKIE & CHARLES McNARY (R) 1940 - For President & Vice President (Nominees) - 7/8" - Celluloid.

An Indiana farm boy who became a wealthy and powerful Wall Street attorney, Wendell Willkie had never held any political office before running for President in 1940. In fact, he hadn't even been a Republican until a year or so before launching his campaign. Using a brilliant Madison Avenue media campaign, Willkie captured the GOP nomination on the sixth ballot over better known political figures like Ohio Senator Bob Taft, New York Governor Tom Dewey and Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg. As the VP runningmate, the delegates selected US Senate Minority Leader Charles McNary of Oregon. The Democratic incumbent, Franklin Roosevelt, was seeking an unprecedented third term in the White House. Willkie's campaign focused on the "No Third Term" theme -- using catchy slogans like "Washington wouldn't. Lincoln couldn't. Roosevelt shouldn't. No third term." In the end, FDR won not only a third term -- but also won a fourth term in 1944. Willkie lost in 1940 by a 55% to 45% vote. Oddly, neither Willkie nor McNary would have completed the term had they won as both died a few months apart in 1944 (Willkie at age 52, McNary at age 69).