Regis exhibit chronicles 200 years of American political campaigns
In the world of politics, slogans and campaign messages serve as the lifeblood of presidential elections. Like any brand seeking to attract customers, candidates must “sell” themselves and their vision for the future of America to voters.
Whether through bold promises of change or nostalgic calls to tradition, the way politicians craft their message is key to winning hearts and minds — and, of course, votes. But what if we could step back in time and see how these strategies have evolved since the nation’s founding?
Enter “I Approve This Message: A Visual History of American Presidential Campaigns and Elections,” a groundbreaking exhibit at Regis University’s Dayton Memorial Library. This fascinating showcase offers a window into the past, bringing to light more than 4,500 artifacts from the Notarianni Political Memorabilia Collection. Amassed by longtime Regis donors Aldo and Peggie Notarianni, the collection represents more than 200 years of presidential campaigns, capturing the ebb and flow of political culture in the United States.
The breadth of the collection is impressive. Visitors can find familiar items such as campaign buttons, bumper stickers and yard signs — but also quirky and unexpected pieces like dolls, dinner plates, cigar boxes and even bottles of liquor branded with campaign messages. These artifacts chronicle not just individual elections but the broader social movements that have shaped them.
Tony Lee, a Regis alumnus and President of the American Political Items Collectors (APIC), was instrumental in bringing the Notarianni collection to campus. A lifelong collector of political memorabilia, Lee’s fascination began as a child in Dallas when his brother brought home buttons from the 1968 election and various protests that rocked the era. His favorite items in the collection are from the Civil Rights era, including those promoting Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington and “I Have a Dream” speech, as well as pieces that represent the darker side of history — created by those who wished to preserve segregation.
“[The collection] represents American history and helps you understand where we are. It’s eye-opening to a lot of people — the campaign issues of a hundred years ago are the issues of today. Fair wages, inflation, the cost of living — none of these topics are new. They’ve always been a concern for the electorate,” Lee said.
As Hannah Miller, Archives and Digital Collections Department Head at Regis, described it: “This exhibit not only highlights the creativity and diversity of campaign materials but also provides a deeper understanding of the social and political forces that have shaped our nation’s history.”
The exhibit is unafraid to explore both the uplifting and troubling aspects of political campaigning. Many artifacts reflect calls for unity, hope and progress on issues such as civil rights and women’s suffrage, as well as the growing influence of the Latine and LGBT+ communities.
On the other hand, some pieces reveal the divisiveness, hyperbole and mean-spirited personal attacks that have long plagued American elections. From Trump and Clinton to Lincoln and Douglas, politicians have often sought to portray their rivals as fools, swindlers or worse. Particularly striking is a voting machine from the contested 2000 Florida election, infamous for its “hanging chad” ballots, a stark reminder of how close — and contentious — elections can be.
As we stand at the cusp of an era defined by AI, deepfakes and misinformation, one can’t help but wonder what the future of political messaging might look like. “I Approve This Message” offers not just a retrospective of the past but encourages visitors to think deeply about the possible future of electoral campaigns.
In the meantime, the artifacts in the exhibit tell a rich and nuanced story through seemingly ordinary objects. For Tony Lee and other collectors, preserving this history is a labor of love. "We’re just curators, trying to keep these collections in the best condition to pass along to future generations," Lee says. "It’s on all of us to preserve these items — and it’s an honor to do so."
Come See for Yourself
“I Approve This Message” is open now through Nov. 8, 2024, offering the Regis community and the public a timely opportunity to explore the rich history of American presidential campaigns in the lead-up to the next election on Nov. 5, 2024.