Eisenhower National Historic Site

Campaign Button (top left)
1950s
Ike and Mamie on a campaign button.
Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 9.0, D 0.4 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15821.

Campaign Button (top right)
1950s
Reads in white: "FOR PRESIDENT - DWIGHT D. / EISENHOWER."
Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 9.0, D 0.3 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15822.

Campaign Button (bottom left)
1956
Eisenhower wearing dark suit, white shirt and gray tie, bust view, background is medium blue in color, metal backing has brass straight pin.
Metal, paper, plastic. Dia 5.7 cm. T 0.3 cm.
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 11232.

Campaign Button (bottom right)
1952
"I LIKE IKE". with "EISENHOWER,""NIXON" and "VOTE / REPUBLICAN".
Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 8.8, D 0.4 cm
Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15824.

1948 Campaign
When General Eisenhower’s tour of duty as Chief of Staff ended in February of 1948, many urged him to consider a run for the Presidency on the Democratic ticket in the ‘48 election. According to Eisenhower, President Truman offered to run as a vice presidential candidate if he would accept the Democratic presidential nomination. Democrats assumed Ike could win in a runaway against Republican candidate, Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Eisenhower insisted, “I haven’t a political ambition in the world. I want nothing to do with politics.” Many refused to believe him and continued to draft him for the Democratic nomination fearing Truman a sure loser. Ike was content to spend 1948 writing his World War II memoirs, Crusade in Europe, and launching a second career as President of Columbia University.



Campaign Button (top left) 1950s Ike and Mamie on a campaign button. Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 9.0, D 0.4 cm Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15821. Campaign Button (top right) 1950s Reads in white: "FOR PRESIDENT - DWIGHT D. / EISENHOWER." Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 9.0, D 0.3 cm Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15822. Campaign Button (bottom left) 1956 Eisenhower wearing dark suit, white shirt and gray tie, bust view, background is medium blue in color, metal backing has brass straight pin. Metal, paper, plastic. Dia 5.7 cm. T 0.3 cm. Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 11232. Campaign Button (bottom right) 1952 "I LIKE IKE". with "EISENHOWER,""NIXON" and "VOTE / REPUBLICAN". Metal, plastic, paper. Dia 8.8, D 0.4 cm Eisenhower National Historic Site, EISE 15824. 1948 Campaign When General Eisenhower’s tour of duty as Chief of Staff ended in February of 1948, many urged him to consider a run for the Presidency on the Democratic ticket in the ‘48 election. According to Eisenhower, President Truman offered to run as a vice presidential candidate if he would accept the Democratic presidential nomination. Democrats assumed Ike could win in a runaway against Republican candidate, Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Eisenhower insisted, “I haven’t a political ambition in the world. I want nothing to do with politics.” Many refused to believe him and continued to draft him for the Democratic nomination fearing Truman a sure loser. Ike was content to spend 1948 writing his World War II memoirs, Crusade in Europe, and launching a second career as President of Columbia University.

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