Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Theodore Roosevelt Campaign Button
ca. 1904
Whitehead & Hoag Co.
USA: New Jersey, Newark
Paper; metal
overall: 1/4"h x 1-1/2"dia.
Gift of Frank M. Gray
77.38.12

Theodore Roosevelt Campaign Button; twisted metal ring around edge; central design shows head and shoulders of Roosevelt; banner on front reads "THEODORE ROOSEVELT"; reverse reads "Allied Printing/ Trades Council/ Union label/ Newark/ Buttons made by/ The Whitehead and Hoag Co/ Newark N.J. USA/ Pat April 14, 1896/ July 21, 1896."

As the sitting president in 1904, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) honored the unspoken rule against open presidential participation in his campaign for another four years. Instead, surrogates spoke for Roosevelt and promoted his accomplishments while in office. Buttons, banners, and other advertising material allowed votes to show which candidate had won their support during the campaign. Elected in 1904, Roosevelt was only the second vice president chosen by voters to be president.