Political Halloween: Alf Landon Cape

I have no idea if it was the intent of the campaign to have this as a Halloween item, but a cape is a staple of our modern super heroes. What republican youngster in 1936 would have passed up the chance to be Super Landon or Super Knox for Halloween? The cape measures 23 x 37", a perfect fit for that super hero in your life. What super powers do you think you get with a cape like this?

Alf Landon of course never became a trendy enough Halloween costume to propel him to the White House. He lost to FDR by a staggering 523-8, carrying only Maine and Vermont. While FDR would go and serve and die in office just after winning his fourth term, Landon would live well into the 1980s. He passed away three days after his 100th Birthday in 1987. Perhaps longevity is a super power?

Political Halloween: Goldwater for Halloween

Here are three versions of one of the Halloween themed political buttons that pretty much ensured a tradition of a Halloween themed buttons for each candidate in every election from 1964 onward. These are actually anti-Goldwater pins issued by supporters of LBJ. APIC member Tom Peeling covers these pins on his Collectors Quest blog.


More Halloween themed items to come!

Political Halloween: McCain for Halloween!

Over the next couple of days we'll profile some Halloween themed political items. This 3" pin from Wisconsin is a take on a classic anti-Goldwater pin. 2008 saw a lot of excitement and there were several different Halloween themed items. More details on this pin can be found at politicalcollectors.com.

If you have a favorite Halloween item, send us a photo!

Michael Landon Campaigns in Oregon

In the recent Old Politicals auction going on right now there is a special Oregon lot of items from April of 1980. While then Governor Ronald Reagan was campaigning around the country he sent out lots of his friends around the country to stump for him. One of those friends was T.V.'s Michael Landon from Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie fame. Landon and Reagan ran in the same circles from California. Here is a video from later in 1980 before the election at a fundraiser featuring Landon and several other familiar faces.

Auction Alert: Old Politicals & Anderson Auction

Just FYI, Old Politicals by Gene Dillman is up and open for bidding. The Auction closes October 17th.

Anderson Americana will be up later at the end of the month so be checking them out soon.

Happy Bidding!

Top Ten Oregon Items

This post will be an ongoing project over the next several weeks as the Oregon APIC members try and decide what items from Oregon merit to be the Top 10. They might fit on this list because of rarity, desirability or just because they are so cool. The order in which items appear for the time being bear no indication of where we think they belong on the list. Once we have a list of  at least 10 items nominated we'll vote and open the voting up other APIC members and friends.

A) Tom McCall for Congress Eisenhower Coattail poster (1954)

This was back when Tom McCall, was still being referred to as Thomas Lawson McCall. Eisenhower items are always in demand and add to it that this is a McCall item and you've got yourself a real gem! Some of our fellow political junkies claim to have seen at least one such poster floating around in Eastern Oregon, possibly coming from the McCall Ranch estate sale back in the 70s and 80s. This example is from Oregon Historical Society McCall holdings and is pictured in Brent Walth's Fire at Eden's Gate.

Start sending your nominations, and we'll fix up a ballot.