LYNDON B. JOHNSON & HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (D) 1964 - For President & VP (Won) - 1¾" - Celluloid. Condition: Slightly age yellowed (as pictured).

One of the nicer LBJ-HHH buttons from 1964. Touting their "Great Society" social programs and promising peace in Vietnam, the Johnson-Humphrey team rolled to a landslide victory over conservative GOP nominee Barry Goldwater -- defeating him by a 61% to 38% vote. This great Scientists-Engineers-Physicians item is a "must have" for any serious LBJ collector.

DWIGHT D. "IKE" EISENHOWER (R) 1952 - For President (Won) - 1¼" - Celluloid.

A classic, old-style campaign button. 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 GOP Senate Leader Bob Taft for the nomination. Eisenhower was easily elected President over Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson (D) in a 55%-44% vote.

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.

BILL CLINTON & AL GORE (D) 1996 - For President & VP (Won) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

As we've done in our past four auctions, we again offer yet another uncommon Clinton item. This 1996 Clinton pin was issued by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). A great Clinton & labor union pin!

WENDELL WILLKIE (R) 1940 - For President (Nominee) - 7/8" - Litho.

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. Using a brilliant media campaign, he 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. 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.

GEORGE McGOVERN & SARGENT SHRIVER (D) 1972 - For President & VP (Nominees) - 1 5/8" - Celluloid.

This '72 button was used within the Hispanic communities around the nation. The Democratic ticket of South Dakota Senator George McGovern and former Ambassador Sargent Shriver campaigned on a platform of ending the war in Vietnam, full employment programs, environmental protection and other liberal positions. President Nixon, however, proved far too strong an opponent. Ultimately, the McGovern-Shriver ticket lost to Nixon in a disasterous 61%-38% landslide defeat. They only carried one state (Massachusetts).

JACK GARGAN (D-Florida) 1994 - For Governor (Lost Primary) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

Retired multi-millionaire businessman Jack Gargan has been a central figure in the Perot movement since 1992. Gargan self-financed a political group in 1991-92 named "Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out" (THRO) -- dedicated to defeating as many incumbent Congressmen as possible. THRO garnered lots of national publicity for Gargan. Gargan quickly became an ardent Perot backer and the original founder of the '92 "Draft Perot" campaign. Although 1992 did not see many incumbents defeated in November, Gargan laid the groundwork for the 1994 changes in Congress. Gargan briefly re-entered major party politics to run a low-key, anti-incumbent campaign for Florida Governor in 1994 -- challenging incumbent Lawton Chiles in the primary. Chiles defeated Gargan in a 72% to 28% landslide. Gargan returned to the Perot movement shortly after and is now a Reform Party candidate for Congress in 1998. An uncommon Florida "locals" items.

RICHARD NIXON (R) 1972 - For President (Won) - 2 1/8" - Celluloid.

One of the nicer 1972 Nixon button. This was the only one of the Nixon "nationalities" pins (i.e, "Swedish Americans for Nixon," etc.) that did not match the red, white & blue theme of the rest of the series. Nixon won re-election in '72 by a massive 61%-38% vote over liberal Senator George McGovern (D). A nice button for both Nixon and Native American cause collectors.

TED KENNEDY (D) 1980 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1 3/8" - Litho. Condition: a few scratches.

This button is actually making a play on words -- by separating the "I" from "AM" -- as it was issued when the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union endorsed Ted Kennedy's 1980 challenge to incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Carter defeated Kennedy in New Hampshire by a 47%-37% vote. Kennedy, however, scored major wins in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, DC, New Mexico, Rhode Island and California. Kennedy carried his fight all the way to the convention, but ultimately lost by a floor vote of 2,123 to 1,140. The IAM refused to back Carter in the general election, eventually endorsing Citizens Party candidate Barry Commoner.

LARRY HOGAN (R-Maryland) 1982 - For US Senator (Nominee) - 1¼" - Celluloid.

With all this Republican talk about impeaching President Clinton, it seemed appropriate to look back at the last impeachment hearings involving Watergate. Congressman Larry Hogan was a centrist Republican and member of the House Judiciary Committee -- first elected to Congress on Nixon's coattails in 1968. Traditionally a Nixon loyalist, Hogan gained national attention when we became the first GOP member of the committee in 1974 to call for President Nixon's impeachment. Nixon was so incensed by Hogan's action that he singled him out years later for scathing criticism in Nixon's autobiography RN. Hogan himself soon became a victim of Watergate as angry Nixon partisans caused Hogan to lose the 1974 GOP gubernatorial primary in a 54% to 46% upset against a gadfly candidate. Hogan returned to local political office in 1978 and was the GOP nominee for US Senate in 1982 (37%). A nice Watergate related item.

GERALD FORD (R) 1976 - For President (Nominee) - 1 3/8" - Litho.

I received numerous e-mails asking that I include a President Ford pin in this auction (as none were offered in Auctions 1 through 4). Okay, I got the message! This Ford button -- with the official disclaimer on the curl ("Pres. FORD Comm. - James A Baker III Chairman") -- was part of the nationalities series issued by the Ford campaign. This one, obviously, was used at Oktoberfests and similar German-American themed events.

ALBERT OTTINGER (R-New York) 1928 - For Governor (Nominee) - 7/8" - Celluloid.

Albert Ottinger achieved much in his own right. As a State Senator, he narrowly lost a race for Congress in 1914. Later, he was elected Attorney General of New York. Yet, despite these accomplishments, Ottinger is best remembered for the race he narrowly lost -- the 1928 gubernatorial contest. In 1928, Attorney General Ottinger was the GOP nominee for Governor against former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt (D). Although he ran an aggressive campaign, Ottinger narrowly lost to Roosevelt by a margin of only 0.6% (25,000 votes). Four years later, FDR was elected President. This rare button belongs in any serious FDR-related collection.

HUBERT HUMPHREY & ED MUSKIE (D) 1968 - For President & VP (Nominees) - 1¾" - Celluloid.

This nice looking pin showcased the Democratic ticket of Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Maine Senator Ed Muskie. Humphrey -- a traditional pro-union, pro-civil rights, anti-communist Democrat and a supporter of President Johnson's war effort in Vietnam -- was weakened within his own party by a divisive nomination fight against anti-war candidates Bobby Kennedy and Gene McCarthy. The violent riots at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention also hurt Humphrey. In the general election, former Vice President Richard Nixon (R) narrowly defeated Humphrey and former Alabama Governor George Wallace (American Independent). The vote: Nixon-43.4%, Humphrey-42.7%, Wallace-13.5%. After his '68 defeat, Humphrey returned to the US Senate in 1970, ran for President again in 1972, and was re-elected to the Senate in 1976 before dying in office in 1978. Humphrey -- jokingly known for his extreme loquaciousness -- was highly respected in the Senate for his integrity and statesmanship. Muskie -- who also ran for President in 1972 -- remained in the Senate until he was selected to serve as US Secretary of State for the final year of the Carter Administration.

JOHN CONNALLY (R) 1980 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1" - Litho.

John Connally rose to prominence in both political parties. He began his career as an aide to Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson. Later, as a businessman and attorney, Connally earned a large fortune from cattle and oil deals. As a Democrat, he served as President Kennedy's Secretary of the Navy. Elected Texas Governor in 1962, he was riding in the Presidential limousine with Kennedy in Dallas when Kennedy was assassinated. Connally was also seriously wounded by one of Oswald's bullets. After recovering his health, Connally was re-elected Governor in 1964 and again in 1966 by landslide margins. Striking up a close friendship with President Nixon, Connally served as Nixon's Treasury Secretary from 1971-72 -- when he resigned to chair Democrats for Nixon. Connally switched to the GOP in 1973. When Spiro Agnew resigned as Vice President in 1973, Nixon originally wanted to pick Connally as the new Vice President (but ultimately selected House Minority Leader Gerald Ford). Connally was highly touted as a VP runningmate for President Ford in 1976, but again the call never came. In 1980, Connally decided to run for President. He spent an astounding $10 million before the first primary. After a dismal sixth place finish in New Hampshire and a distant second place finish in South Carolina, Connally quit the race in March 1980. He had won just one delegate from Arkansas. This small pin is a remnant from the $10 million campaign.

BERNIE SANDERS (Socialist-Vermont) 1990 - For Congress (Won) - 1½" - Litho.

Bernie Sanders, a self-avowed socialist, is the only Independent serving in Congress. A New Yorker with a strong Brooklyn accent, Sanders moved to Vermont in the early 1970s as a socialist political organizer. He ran losing races for US Senate and other offices in the 1970s, capturing just a fraction of the vote. In 1980, he was even a presidential elector for the Trotskyite candidates of the Socialist Workers Party. Through community activism, he focused on local issues in Burlington. He was elected Burlington Mayor in 1981, defeating major party candidates. Under Sanders' socialist administration, residents jokingly dubbed their city the "People's Republic of Burlington." Running as an Independent, he lost races for Governor in 1986 (15%) and Congress in 1988 (38%) before leaving the Mayor's office in 1989. In 1990, when this pin was used, Sanders successfully cobbled together an odd coalition of left-wingers, Democrats, independents and pro-gun N.R.A. members to defeat moderate GOP incumbent Congressman Peter Smith by a landslide 56% to 40% vote. Since then, Sanders has been re-elected three times by relatively wide margins. This pin, from Bernie's first winning race for Congress, is a great third-party item.

PATSY MINK (D-Hawaii) 1992 - For Congress (Won) - 1¾" - Celluloid. Condition: pin clasp on rear slightly dented.

An unapologetic liberal and a self-proclaimed feminist in the 1960s before feminist causes were popular, State Senator Patsy Mink was first elected to Congress in 1964. In Washington, she successfully pushed women's issues into a Democratic Party rallying cry. In 1972, Mink became the first Asian woman to run for President. She entered primaries in Wisconsin (0.1%), Maryland (0.1%) and Oregon (2%), before withdrawing from the race. In 1976, Mink lost the primary for US Senate. She served as national president of the liberal Americans for Democratic Action in 1978-81. Mink later served on the Honolulu City Commission before making failed bids for Governor in 1986 and Honolulu Mayor in 1988, before regaining her Congressional seat in 1990 at age 63. Back in Congress, Mink is again championing progressive and feminist causes. This button is from her 1992 race, which she won with 72%.

GEORGE BUSH & DAN QUAYLE (R) 1992 - For President & Vice President (Nominees) - 1¼" - Celluloid.

This sharp looking button features the official logo used throughout the failed 1992 Bush-Quayle re-election campaign. This Bush-Quayle button should be one of the starting points contained in any serious modern Presidential collection.

HARRY BROWNE (Libertarian) 1996 - For President (Nominee) - 2¼" - Celluloid.

1996 Libertarian Party nominee Harry Browne used this button in his campaign to capture the LP Presidential nomination. His campaign issued completely redesigned buttons after the convention. An author and investment advisor, Browne received more than 485,000 votes -- 5th place -- and appeared on the ballot in all 50 states. He is again seeking the LP nomination for 2000.

EUGENE McCARTHY (D) 1968 - For President (Lost for Nomination) - 1¼" - Celluloid.

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. McCarthy ran again for President in 1972 and 1992 as a Democrat and in 1976 as an Independent (3rd place - 757,000 votes - 1%).

COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION - Circa 1980 - 1" x 1¼" - Anodized metal & red enamel.

The Soviet pin we offered last auction drew such a strong response that we decided to offer this second pin. This great-looking Soviet-made pin (with an embossed "15 kopek" price printed on the reverse) features a profile of the Soviet Union founder & leader Vladimir Illyich Lenin. You can look at this pin in one of two ways: (1) "ALL GLORY TO LENIN!" -- a CPSU political pin glorifying the Lenin personality cult; or (2) "WE WON!" -- like the piece of the Berlin Wall at the Reagan Presidential Library, consider this pin a fantastic Cold War trophy commemorating the American victory over Soviet communism. Either way, a wonderful collector's item!