Political Memorabilia: A Big Vote Getter
By Teresa Ambord
During an election year, we are constantly bombarded with political advertising. The closer it gets to the election, the harder it is to escape the barrage.
Did you know that active campaigning for the presidency didn't begin until the middle of the 18th century? Back then, most presidential electors were not chosen by majority vote. Rather they were chosen by state legislatures. But also, it wasn't considered proper to openly campaign for the presidency. Candidates were nominated, and then they simply went home and waited to see who the new president would be. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Here Come the Gimmicks!
In 1824, after Andrew Jackson lost to John Quincy Adams, he decided there must be another way. When the next election rolled around in 1828, he was prepared with such political mementos as buttons, tokens, ribbons, snuffboxes, thread boxes, and ceramic plates, all designed to get his name before the public. He won the election against Adams, and the next election against Henry Clay.
With the 20th century, television became the best vehicle for campaigning, and production of candidate buttons and other gadgets slumped. But they can still be found.
Often state and local campaign headquarters will produce buttons and you can visit one and get a few. But if collecting the older ones is what you are after, there are some amazing finds at various Web sites.
A Great Place to Find Campaign Buttons and Other Memorabilia:
Wade says that most collectors of political memorabilia begin collecting when they are working on a campaign. That's how he got started at age ten. His interest in politics led him to an appointment by Richard Nixon on the advisory council to end the draft, and friendships with Presidents Nixon, Johnson, Carter, Ford, Reagan, and both Bushes. He is now a close friend of President George W. Bush. Over the years he has served on various election committees, and has been a delegate to several GOP conventions. Now Wade is the president of the Bush Political Items Collectors, which is a group of collectors of Bush memorabilia.
To View Other Collections and to Go Shopping, Here Is a Great Site:
And since the recent passing of the 40th president, Ronald Reagan, Reagan memorabilia is especially sought after.
Here is a source for Gipper collectibles:
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