Release: MONDAY AUGUST 21, 2020
In 1968 at the Democrat National Convention in Chicago, young protestors gathered outside the International Amphitheater. Fueled by the deaths of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, as well as the war in Vietnam, they violently clashed with police and troops
Almost four years ago, multiple “Not Our President” riots broke out in US cities after the election of Donald Trump. That included smashing windows at politically-neutral/innocent stores. Today, with less than three months until 2020 ballots are cast and counted, the vitriol seems even higher.
While bumper stickers are a thing of the past, I’ve spotted many more yard signs than in past years. It’s interesting to see who is brave or staunch enough to advertise who they support. Time was, those convictions might have been worn with pride on political buttons. There are still a few such buttons produced. The older ones were discarded years ago or relegated to forgotten drawers. Be it an election year or not, some of those personal blandishments are now worth big money....
It’s almost common to still run across buttons promoting the likes of Eisenhower (“I Like Ike”) and Kennedy (“I Back Jack”). Those were produced in the tens of millions. So many still exist that most are worth only a few cents.
To find real value, one needs to dial the clock back to well before the 1950s. There are exceptions. Buttons promoting a combined Kennedy/Humphrey ticket can sell for hundreds of dollars. A 1964 “flicker” button with lenticular graphics showing candidate Barry Goldwater and his wife moving into the White House and, when tilted another way, showing Lyndon Johnson moving out is worth a tidy sum in top grade. Back in 1964, that’s about as derisively “violent” as it got.
According to those who buy and sell political buttons, one of the more valuable shows candidates Cox and Roosevelt from 1920. The right type of that button can bring around $1,500. A much rarer button featuring Harding and Coolidge – of which only six are known to exist – is worth between $40,000 and $50,000. Of course, it has to be the correct button version and must be genuine. Those versed in the button hobby concede contemporary fakes are plentiful.
Abraham Lincoln was the first to have his picture photographically reproduced on a political button with his tintype image on one side and vice-presidential candidate Hannibal Hamlin on the other. One of those brings in the neighborhood of $800. Incidentally, if you think presidents are vilified in the press today, modern scorn doesn’t hold a candle to how Lincoln was disparaged during the Civil War while he was in office.
The results of the 2020 election still wait to be seen. Certainly, there is more than enough antagonism to go around. Some of that may be seen on upcoming buttons. One current version shows an angry and yelling Donald Trump with a large swath of orange “hair” attached. No words. Just the picture. It’s amusing but, ironically, I can’t tell if it is for or against the president. Clearly, it wasn’t cheap to make. That’s why campaigns are turning to simple paper stickers to save money.
Whatever the outcome this year, a tiny ray of hope might come from a bizarre encounter on May 9, 1970. After a day of prolific protests by young people in Washington, DC with signs declaring “Impeach Nixon,” “Nixon = Fourth Reich,” and anti-war messages, at 6:00AM, Nixon himself actually showed up at the Lincoln Memorial where hundreds of protestors were camped – literally walking into the Lion’s Den. Hated as he was by the protestors, for two hours he stayed and spoke with them commiserating about the war and answering questions. It’s remembered as the biggest nightmare ever for the Secret Service.
That morning in May, Nixon and the students had discourse. Moreover, everyone walked away unscathed. Imagine that happening today. I’d wear a button in support of that – one that would surely be very valuable in the future.
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