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Whatever happened to good old campaign buttons??
By Gary | November 10, 2008
Do you collect election memorabilia? I confess mostly what I collect related to elections is 1) impatience with the whole drawn out process, and, 2) a great deal of relief when elections are over.
I saw a segment of "This Old House" on PBS over the weekend which featured a collection of various promotional lapel pins, buttons, etc., created over the years for U.S. presidential elections. What surprised me -- although it shouldn't have, really -- is that various old looking campaign buttons from pre-Teddy Roosevelt days were actually NOT legitimate campaign buttons. I'm not certain it about the specific presidential campaign, though I THINK it was TR or perhaps Grover Cleveland. But before whichever campaign in the late 1800s or early 1900s, there were not campaign buttons made. The really nifty looking buttons for such past presidents as Adams, Washington, Lincoln, and many others -- were actually promotional items created by various companies to be sold as collectibles.
Should have thought about campaign buttons and technology and I would've figured that out, I guess!
Anyway, do you collect presidential memorabilia? These days, I don't think candidates make such things as campaign buttons or banners for people to wear or display. Of course, there are the ubiquitous campaign signs and bumper stickers that sprout everywhere and set around to weather come the winter after an election. (Though many towns, ours included, have ordinances requiring signs to be taken down.)
But, sigh, I miss the "I LIKE IKE!" buttons of my childhood. (Wow, you may say, is he THAT old? Yeah, he is. LOL!)
Topics: General, Political News |