This exhibition features political ephemera from
the collections of the Museum of the City of New York. While most of collection is related local
political campaigns, these objects speak to New Yorkers' support of Presidential
candidates.
Republican Candidates (1876)Museum of the City of New York
1876
Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler
Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893) and William A. Wheeler (1819-1887) served as the 19th President and Vice President of the United States (1877-1881).
Jewelers - Harrison and Morton 1888 (1888)Museum of the City of New York
1888
Benjamin Harrison and Levi Morton
Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) and Levi P. Morton (1824-1920) ran together on the Republican ticket in 1888, against incumbent President Grover Cleveland.
Victory Harrison & Morton 9th Ward Pioneer Corps (1888)Museum of the City of New York
The 1888 election is notable as the third of four instances in which the winner, Harrison, won the Electoral College, but not the popular vote. This would not occur again until 2000, when George W. Bush was elected over Al Gore.
1896
William McKinley and Garret Hobart
Executive Committee - Hide and Leather Sound Money Ass'n (1896)Museum of the City of New York
William McKinley (1843-1901) and Garret Hobart (1844-1899) ran together on the Republican ticket in the 1896 Presidential election. McKinley was elected 25th President, and Hobart as Vice President.
Campaign Committee - 31st Assembly District (1896)Museum of the City of New York
This ribbon badge reflects the support of McKinley and Hobart by the 31st Senate Assembly District, now representing the far western portion of Manhattan above midtown.
Gold Didn't Get There - But Watch Us Take It There - July 7th - Nov. 3rd. (1896)Museum of the City of New York
McKinley also advocated for maintaining the nation's economy according to the gold standard, rather than the production of silver coin which led to inflationary monetary policy.
Protection - 1896 (1896)Museum of the City of New York
This badge proclaims "protection," referring to McKinley's policy of applying tariffs on imported goods to promote American industry.
McKinley's continued adherence to the gold standard was often referred to as "sound money."
Free Silver Means a Dollar Worth 50 Cents (1896)Museum of the City of New York
This medal features a sliding panel which allows someone to select "sound money" and McKinley and Hobart, to see their dollar retains its value, while "free silver" reduces it to 50 cents.
[William McKinley.] (1900)Museum of the City of New York
Vice President Garrett Hobart developed a serious heart ailment in 1898, and dying in 1899, was unable to serve as McKinely's running mate for the Presidential Election of 1900.
National Democratic Party - Palmer and Buckner 1896. (1896)Museum of the City of New York
1896
John M. Palmer and Simon Bolivar Buckner
John M. Palmer (1817-1900) and Simon Bolivar Buckner (1823-1914) were running mates in the 1896 election on the National Democratic ticket, a conservative sprinter group. 79 year-old Palmer and 73 year-old Buckner represented the oldest combined age presidential ticket in American history.
1900
William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt
[William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.] (1900)Museum of the City of New York
Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) joined the Republican ticket as the Vice Presidential candidate with McKinley for the 1900 campaign, and was elected 25th Vice President of the United States.
[William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.] (1900)Museum of the City of New York
Born in New York City, Roosevelt began his career in politics in the New York State Assembly in 1882, serving until 1884.
[William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.] (1900)Museum of the City of New York
Following the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Roosevelt succeeded him as the 26th President. He was re-elected to a full term in 1904, and served until 1909.
Executive Committee - McKinley and Roosevelt - Hide and Leather Sound Money Association 1900 (1900)Museum of the City of New York
This badge shows the support of the Hide and Leather Merchants for McKinley and Roosevelt, who continued to run on McKinley's established support of "sound money" policy.
Alton B. Parker - Henry G. Davis (1904)Museum of the City of New York
Alton B. Parker (1852-1926) and Henry G. Davis (1823-1916), Democratic candidates for president in 1904, were defeated in a landslide by incumbent Theodore Roosevelt.
For President - Parker (1904)Museum of the City of New York
Parker was referred to as a "Bourbon" Democrat. The term is believed to have originated with a group of anti-Reconstruction, conservative extremist Democrats in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Through later identification with the Bourbon dynasty in France, Democrats who sought to maintain the aristocracy and social traditions of the Old South, also became known as "Bourbons."
Executive Committee - Business Men's Republican Association - Taft and Sherman 1908 (1908)Museum of the City of New York
1908
William Howard Taft and James S. Sherman
The Presidential election of 1908 pitched Republicans William Howard Taft (1857-1930) and James S. Sherman (1855-1912) against incumbent Theodore Roosevelt. Taft and Sherman were victorious.
Executive Committee - Business Men's Republican Association - Taft & Sherman 1908 (1908)Museum of the City of New York
The 1908 election was the first in which a primary election system was introduced into the process for the nomination of a Republican candidate.
Wilkie FIrst Voter (1940)Museum of the City of New York
1940
Wendell Willkie vs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Wendell Wilkie (1892-1944), campaigned as the Republican candidate against Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) in the 1940 Presidential race.
