Who was John F. Kennedy's primary contender for the Democratic nomination for president in 1960 and in what years did William Jennings Bryan run for the presidency? Find your answer at Burke Library's exhibition of U.S. presidential campaign medals and pins currently on display.
Beginning with William Harrison's 1840 campaign medal (medals were the predecessors to pins), the library's collection provides a visual journey through most of the races in the later half of the 19th century and the entire 20th century up to the present with few omissions. Third party candidate pins, particularly in earlier contests, have been more difficult to acquire.
Beginning in the 1960s, mass production and more sophisticated campaigns led to many different kinds of pins for each candidate. In the 19th century, the pins were somewhat more unique including one of an insect whose eyes are pictures of the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Eagles and American shields also proliferated on earlier pins and medals.
Randy Ericson, Couper Librarian, said that this is one of his favorite collections and commented that "we tend to forget the losing candidates, especially those who ran for their party's nomination. The pins remind us of people like Mo Udall (contender for the Democratic nomination in 1976) and George Romney (contender for the Republican nomination in 1964)." He points out that it is easy to forget, for instance, that Adlai Stevenson ran against Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, but that he also positioned himself as a possible contender against Kennedy in 1960 for the Democratic nomination.
The exhibit, which also includes campaign posters, will be open through Nov. 21.
