| Political success depends on reaching out to the | | | | Political buttons used through the history of |
| masses. What better way is there to be in the | | | | American democracy hold a lot of historical |
| public eye than to feature on buttons - one of | | | | significance today - they have become antique. |
| the most commonplace, everyday objects? So a | | | | Enthusiasts all over the country collect these |
| century back our political leaders had the brilliant | | | | buttons. There are several local and national |
| idea of using buttons for their election campaigns. | | | | collector-clubs that regularly organize conventions |
| George Washington gets the credit for wearing | | | | and shows of political buttons. The value of |
| the first political button in 1789 which read 'G.W. | | | | antique political buttons depends on the rarity of |
| Long Live the President' replicating the expression | | | | the item and the fame of the presidents. One can |
| 'Long live the king'. All his supporters also wore | | | | also find books that provide information like the |
| the same clothing button made of brass on his | | | | rarity and prices of political buttons. |
| first inauguration. Another landmark in the history | | | | Campaign buttons are still used during presidential |
| of political buttons came when for the first time in | | | | elections. But these days the use of buttons to |
| 1860 the tintype and ferrotype photo process | | | | express views on political issues has become |
| was used to put Abraham Lincoln's picture on | | | | more common. Buttons have been used to |
| political buttons during his presidential campaign. It | | | | articulate opinions on various issues like women's |
| was because of these buttons that people who | | | | liberation, prohibition, political scandals and war. |
| lived away from the capital could see what the | | | | Man has time and again come up with different |
| presidential candidate looked like. These buttons | | | | forms of expression - pictures, words and fashion |
| were worn around the neck with help of a ribbon. | | | | being the important ones. The use of buttons sort |
| McKinley vs. Bryan campaign in 1896 marked the | | | | of combines all three. The political buttons that we |
| first use of the campaign buttons as we know | | | | use today will become the memorabilia of |
| them today - metallic with printed picture and | | | | tomorrow. One could say that political buttons |
| slogan and pin at the back. | | | | capture the essence of our times. |