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U.S. Political Memorabilia Trivia Quiz

So you want to collect buttons, banners, bumper stickers and more? Learn more about this interesting hobby.

A multiple-choice quiz by sku. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
sku

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
187,660

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
788

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what presidential campaign did the modern, celluloid political button first come into wide use? Hint

1896

1952

1940

1960

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Question 2 of 10

2. In the parlance of the political collector, what is a jugate? Hint

A round sticker that is used in a campaign

A button that has a picture which changes when you look at it from a different angle

A button featuring pictures of both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates

A campaign piece for a local office

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Question 3 of 10

3. The most valuable political campaign button pictured which of the following tickets? Hint

1960 Kennedy & Johnson

1944 Roosevelt &Truman

1912 Roosevelt & Johnson

1920 Cox & Roosevelt

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following has been used to promote a political candidate? Hint

Soap

All of these

Bubble gum cigars

Boxer shorts

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Question 5 of 10

5. If you want to collect political memorabilia, do you have to have a large disposable income?

Yes

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Question 6 of 10

6. In the world of political collectibles, what is a bug? Hint

A button under glass (B.U.G.)

A political collector

A union trademark

A candidate who lost the election

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Question 7 of 10

7. An item that advocates not for a candidate but for a particular issue is called what? Hint

A cause item

A movement item

A non-candidate item

An issue item

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Question 8 of 10

8. A button featuring a local candidate along with a presidential candidate is called what? Hint

A lithograph

A local-national item

A coat-tail item

A jugate

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Question 9 of 10

9. Winning candidate items are always more valuable than losing candidate items.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which organization promotes political collecting? Hint

United Geeks of America

Political Buttons Anonymous

The American Political Items Collectors

National Association for the Advancement of Political Trinkets

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what presidential campaign did the modern, celluloid political button first come into wide use?

Answer: 1896

The celluloid political button, which is the staple of most collectors, consists of a round piece of paper with a photo or slogan, covered in celluloid with a pin-back attached to it. Prior to 1896, campaigns used metal pins which framed small photos of candidates, as well as ribbons, coins and trinkets.

2. In the parlance of the political collector, what is a jugate?

Answer: A button featuring pictures of both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates

Jugates are among the most popular presidential campaign buttons. Items with pictures that change when you look at them from different angles are known as flashers and were especially popular in the 1950s and '60s.

3. The most valuable political campaign button pictured which of the following tickets?

Answer: 1920 Cox & Roosevelt

The 1920 button showing James Cox and a young Franklin Roosevelt(there are several varieties) is the American political memorabilia equivalent of the upside down airplane stamp, the Honus Wagner baseball card or Action Comics #1. It is the legend of the hobby. These rare and desirable buttons have sold from $25,000 to $85,000, depending on condition.

4. Which of the following has been used to promote a political candidate?

Answer: All of these

Yes, almost anything and everything has been made to promote politicians. Besides the obvious buttons, stickers and shirts, there have been decks of cards, bottles of booze, canes, coins, ribbons, handkerchiefs, and almost anything else you can think of.

5. If you want to collect political memorabilia, do you have to have a large disposable income?

Answer: No

Many items, even older items, can be had for under $20. In addition, you can acquire current items from campaigns for almost nothing. If you go to campaign events, rallies or local campaign offices, you can almost always find a bumper sticker, button or brochure for free or a small donation (usually $1.00). Ephemera - that is items like brochures and buttons that are usually thrown away soon after they cease to be useful - often become scarce in the longer term.

6. In the world of political collectibles, what is a bug?

Answer: A union trademark

The union bug is the small oval symbol, appearing on many items, that shows that the piece was union-made.

7. An item that advocates not for a candidate but for a particular issue is called what?

Answer: A cause item

There are many interesting items advocating for causes as opposed to candidates, including items promoting or opposing wars, prohibition, abortion, women's suffrage, strikes, civil rights and nearly every other political issue.

8. A button featuring a local candidate along with a presidential candidate is called what?

Answer: A coat-tail item

The idea is that the local candidate will ride the presidential candidate's coat tails to victory. One popular coat tail item came from one of Lyndon Johnson's early campaigns for congress. It showed a picture of young LBJ with President Franklin Roosevelt and read "Me and Roosevelt for Johnson".

9. Winning candidate items are always more valuable than losing candidate items.

Answer: False

In fact, there are many losing candidate items, and even third party items, that are quite valuable. The value of a political item has to do with many factors including its rarity, appearance, condition and popularity of the candidate. Sure, people love the popular presidents like Truman, Lincoln, Kennedy and Reagan, but there are lots of collectors interested in the losers and the obscure.

Many presidential collectors strive to have a button from every candidate in every presidential race.

10. Which organization promotes political collecting?

Answer: The American Political Items Collectors

If this quiz has sparked your interest, you should check out APIC: http://apic.us/

Source: Author sku

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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