More on Collecting Vintage Political Buttons and Jugates
03.21.08 By Val UbellIn my last blog, I referenced a ‘vintage’ book I found in our home library called “Encyclopedia of Political Buttons United States 1896-1972.” It has numerous pictures of political buttons and gives a little history on the Presidential candidates, winners and losers. The values in this book have most likely changed quite dramatically and we understand there are a lot of reproductions out there.
It is quite a fascinating and a great way to view our country’s history. My last blog ended with FDR being elected in 1944, for a fourth term. While candidate Wendell Willkie did not win in 1940, his buttons were a hoot! I found one with an elephant ‘blowing away” the competition (a Democrat/donkey.) This was rather unique!
Another theme in his buttons was in reference to not being capable of serving a third term. One example is “Confucius say…man who stand up twice, no good third time” and “No Man is Any Good the Third Time.”
I would not have thought any message this ’suggestive’ would have been acceptable way back then. Willkie’s button with a critter in a barrel, denoting poverty under FDR’s administration did not work either.
In 1944 the candidate against FDR was Thomas E. Dewey. FDR beat him by a substantial margin. In February, FDR met with Stalin and Churchill to lay plans for peace. Upon his return, it was evident that he was tired and ill and on April 12, 1945, he died. Harry S. Truman then became President.
Truman was not very popular and had to work very hard. He was determined not to lose the election in 1948 and made numerous campaign trips throughout the country and presented himself as “the plain people’s President against the privileged people’s Congress.” His plan worked and he beat out Thomas E. Dewey.
The 1952 election had Dwight D. Eisenhower vs. Adlai Stevenson. Ike won in ‘52 and then again in ‘56. It sure looks like the pinbacks became more fun – smiling faces , nicknames of Ike and Dick, sounds more warm and fuzzy than Adlai and Estes, don’t you think?
Then came the JFK election, 1960. You cannot help but think that folks wanted to wear his buttons just for the smiling, handsome face on their lapels.
Kennedy won the election (vs. Richard Nixon) but sadly, was assassinated and did not get to finish the term. Lyndon B. Johnson became President. He ran again in 1964 and won, with Hubert Humphrey as Vice President. He ran against Barry Goldwater. Goldwater’s slogan was “In your Heart, you Know He’s Right..” LBJ had another take on this philosophy with “In Your Guts You Know He’s Nuts.” We imagine that this button is a hard one to find!
I am sure you political button collectors are always on the look-out. You will know which ones are real, or ‘fantasy’, or reproductions. It is helpful if you know the early makers of celluloid buttons such as Whitehead & Hoag, American Art Works, Bastian Bros., St. Louis Button Company and Torsh & Franz. Lithographed buttons were heavily produced starting in the 1920’s and the Green Duck Co. of Chicago, Illinois has been the largest manufacturer. I actually got a ‘lot’ of buttons at an auction once and was fooled until I carefully read the side of one. They had been reproduced by Kleenex in the 1970s. As is true with any collectible, do your homework, know the source you are buying from and enjoy!
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Article Tags: buttons, Dewey, Eisenhower, FDR, JFK, jugates, Kennedy, political, politics, Truman================
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March 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
The older pieces sure were unique — all I see for today’s candidates are the round pin-back buttons and bumper stickers, no other shaped pins. Are we to consider if not out-right match the quality of the presidents to their unusual promotional pieces?
May 18th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Hello, my name is randy, just curious I bought a political piece at a estate sale, it is a Hancock & English 1880 Judgate Pin, it is a Eagle with there pictures suspended from it in a fram type setting. Do you see much on these two guys very often.
Thanks Randy