Novelty, Wendell Willkie, 1940

Political historian Roger A. Fischer claims that the 1940 election between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Republican challenger Wendell Willkie “inspired a volume and variety of campaign objects without equal in American history.” Many Republican objects featured alliterative phrases that took advantage of the W’s in their candidate’s name. Among the more unusual campaign tokens that year were feathers which Willkie supporters could use in a variety of ways including sticking them in their hats. Catchy phrases and novelty items did not help Willkie defeat President Franklin D. Roosevelt who was re-elected to a historic third term.