List of U.S. presidential campaign slogans explained
1800–1896
- "We Polked you in '44, We shall Pierce you in '52" – 1852 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Franklin Pierce; the '44 referred to the 1844 election of James K. Polk as president.
- "The Hero of many battles." – Winfield Scott
- "First in war, first in peace" – Winfield Scott
- "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men, Fremont" – 1856 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of John Fremont
- "Fremont and freedom" – John Fremont
- "We'll Buck 'em in '56" – James Buchanan, playing on "Old Buck", the nickname associated with his last name. (Also "We Po'ked 'em in '44, we Pierced 'em in '52, and we'll Buck 'em in '56". See Franklin Pierce, 1852.)
- "Vote yourself a farm and horses" – Abraham Lincoln, referring to Republican support for a law granting homesteads on the American frontier areas of the West.
- "The Union must and shall be preserved!" – Abraham Lincoln
- "Protection to American industry" – Abraham Lincoln
- "True to the Union and the Constitution to the last." – Stephen A. Douglas
- "The champion of popular sovereignty." – Stephen A. Douglas
- "The Union now and forever" – Stephen A. Douglas
- The Union and the Constitution" – John Bell (Also "John Bell and the Constitution", and "The Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws.")
- "Don't change horses midstream" – Abraham Lincoln
- "Union, liberty, peace" – Abraham Lincoln
- "For Union and Constitution" – Abraham Lincoln (Also "The Union and the Constitution")
- "An honorable, permanent and happy peace." – George B. McClellan
- "Let Us Have Peace" – 1868 presidential campaign slogan of Ulysses S. Grant
- "Vote as You Shot" – 1868 presidential campaign slogan of Ulysses S. Grant
- "Peace, Union, and constitutional government." – Horatio Seymour
- "Tilden and Reform" – Samuel Tilden
- "Honest Sam Tilden" – Samuel Tilden
- "Tilden or Blood!" – 1877 slogan of Tilden supporters during conflict that led to the Compromise of 1877
- "Hayes the true and Wheeler too" – Slogan and campaign song title for Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler, with song adapted from 1840s "Tippecanoe and Tyler too".
- "The boys in blue vote for Hayes and Wheeler" – Hayes' appeal to fellow Union Army veterans.
- "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion" – Republican attack because of supposed Democratic support for consuming alcoholic beverages, Catholic immigrants, and the Confederacy.
- "Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?" – Used by James G. Blaine supporters against Grover Cleveland. The slogan referred to the allegation that Cleveland had fathered an illegitimate child. When Cleveland was elected, his supporters added "Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!"
- "Burn this letter!" – Cleveland supporters' attack on Blaine's supposed corruption, quoting a line from Blaine correspondence that became public.
- "Tell the Truth!" – Cleveland's advice to his supporters after the allegations of his illegitimate child came to light.
- "Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine! The continental liar from the state of Maine!" – Cleveland campaign attack on Blaine's alleged corruption in office.
- "Rejuvenated Republicanism" – Benjamin Harrison
- "Grandfather's hat fits Ben!"[8] – Benjamin Harrison, referring to his grandfather, William Henry Harrison
- "Tippecanoe and Morton too" – Slogan and campaign song title for Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Morton, with song adapted from 1840s "Tippecanoe and Tyler too".
- "Unnecessary taxation oppresses industry." – Grover Cleveland
- "Reduce the tariff on necessaries of life." – Grover Cleveland
- "Our choice: Cleve and Steve." – Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson
- "Tariff Reform" – Grover Cleveland
- "No Force Bill." – Grover Cleveland (To which southern Democrats appended "No Negro Domination!")
- "Harrison and Protection." – Benjamin Harrison
- "Protection-Reciprocity-Honest Money." – Benjamin Harrison
1900–1996
- "Four more years of the full dinner pail" – William McKinley
- "Let Well Enough Alone" – William McKinley
- "To Assure Continued Prosperity" – Theodore Roosevelt
- "National Unity. Prosperity. Advancement." – Theodore Roosevelt
- "It is nothing but fair to leave Taft in the chair" – William Howard Taft
- "Win with Wilson" – Woodrow Wilson
- "Vote for 8 Hour Wilson" – Woodrow Wilson
- "I am for Wilson and an 8 Hour Day" – Woodrow Wilson
- "The man of the eight-hour day" – Woodrow Wilson
- "A Square Deal All Around" – Theodore Roosevelt
- "America First and America Efficient" – Charles Evans Hughes
- "He has kept us out of war." – Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan
- "He proved the pen mightier than the sword." – Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan
- "War in the East, Peace in the West, Thank God for Woodrow Wilson." – Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan
- "War in Europe – Peace in America – God Bless Wilson" – Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan
- "Who but Hoover?" – 1928 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Herbert Hoover.[11]
- "A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" – Commonly cited version of a claim asserted in a Republican Party flier on behalf of the 1928 U.S. presidential campaign of Herbert Hoover.[12]
- "Honest. Able. Fearless." – Al Smith
- "All for 'Al' and 'Al' for All." – Al Smith
- "Make your wet dreams come true." – Al Smith, referring to his stand in favor of repealing Prohibition.
- "Happy Days Are Here Again" – 1932 slogan by Democratic presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- "We are turning the corner" – 1932 campaign slogan in the depths of the Great Depression by Republican president Herbert Hoover.
- "Defeat the New Deal and Its Reckless Spending" – 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Alfred M. Landon
- "Let's Get Another Deck" – 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Alfred M. Landon, using a card game metaphor to answer the "new deal" cards metaphor of Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Let's Make It a Landon-Slide" – 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Alfred M. Landon
- "Life, Liberty, and Landon" – 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Alfred M. Landon
- "Remember Hoover!" – 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Forward with Roosevelt" – Franklin Roosevelt
- "Better A Third Termer than a Third Rater" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "I Want Roosevelt Again!" – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Willkie for the Millionaires, Roosevelt for the Millions" – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Carry on with Roosevelt" – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "No Third Term" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie
- "No Fourth Term Either" – Wendell Willkie
- "Roosevelt for Ex-President" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell Willkie
- "There's No Indispensable Man" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie
- "We Want Willkie" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie
- "Win with Willkie" – 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie
- "Don't swap horses in midstream" – 1944 campaign slogan of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The slogan was also used by Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election.
- "We are going to win this war and the peace that follows" – 1944 campaign slogan in the midst of World War II by Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt
- "Dewey or don't we" – Thomas E. Dewey
- "Win the war quicker with Dewey and Bricker" - 1944 campaign slogan during World War II in support of Thomas E. Dewey and his vice presidential nominee, John W. Bricker
- "I'm just wild about Harry" – 1948 U.S. presidential slogan of Harry S. Truman, taken from a 1921 popular song title written by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake
- "Pour it on 'em, Harry!" – 1948 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Harry S. Truman
- "Give Em Hell, Harry!" – Harry Truman (After a man shouted it during one of his whistle stop railroad tours)
- "The Buck Stops Here"—Harry Truman (Sign kept on The Resolute Desk that became a staple of Truman's presidency)[13]
- "Dew it with Dewey" – Thomas E. Dewey
- "Win with Dewey" – Thomas E. Dewey
- "Get in the fight for states' rights" – Strom Thurmond
- "Work with Wallace" – Henry A. Wallace
- "Work for Peace" – Henry A. Wallace
- "I like Ike" – 1952 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Dwight D. Eisenhower
- "Madly for Adlai" – 1952 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Adlai Stevenson
- "I still like Ike" – 1956 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Dwight D. Eisenhower
- "Peace and Prosperity" – 1956 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Dwight D. Eisenhower
- "Adlai and Estes – The Bestest" – Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver
- "The Winning Team" – Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver
- "A time for greatness" – U.S. presidential campaign theme of John F. Kennedy (Kennedy also used "We Can Do Better" and "Leadership for the 60s").
- "Peace, Experience, Prosperity" – Richard Nixon's slogan showing his expertise over Kennedy.[14]
- "Experience Counts" - Richard Nixon slogan boasting the experience of the Nixon Lodge ticket.
- "Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy" – Catchy jingle extolling Kennedy's virtues.
- "All the way with LBJ" – 1964 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Lyndon B. Johnson
- "In Your Heart, You Know He's Right" – 1964 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Barry Goldwater
- "In Your Guts, You Know He's Nuts" – 1964 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Lyndon B. Johnson supporters, answering Goldwater's slogan
- "The Stakes Are Too High For You To Stay Home" - 1964 U.S. campaign slogan of Lyndon B. Johnson, as seen in The Daisy Ad[15]
- "LBJ for the USA" - 1964 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Lyndon B. Johnson
- "A Choice – Not an Echo" - 1964 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Barry Goldwater
- "Some People Talk Change, Others Cause It" – Hubert Humphrey, 1968
- "This time, vote like your whole world depended on it" – 1968 slogan of Richard Nixon
- "To Begin Anew..." – Eugene McCarthy, 1968[16]
- "Nixon's the One" – Richard M. Nixon, 1968
- "Send them a Message" – George Wallace, 1968
- "Stand Up for America" – George Wallace, 1968
- "Nixon Now" – Richard M. Nixon, 1972[17] (also, "Nixon Now, More than Ever" and "President Nixon. Now more than ever")
- "Come home, America" – George McGovern, 1972[18]
- "Acid, Amnesty, and Abortion for All" – 1972 anti-Democratic Party slogan, from a statement made to reporter Bob Novak by Missouri Senator Thomas F. Eagleton (as related in Novak's 2007 memoir, Prince of Darkness)
- "Dick Nixon Before He Dicks You" – Popular anti-Nixon slogan, 1972[19]
- "They can't lick our Dick" – Popular campaign slogan for Nixon supporters[20]
- "Don't change Dicks in the midst of a screw, vote for Nixon in '72" – Popular campaign slogan for Nixon supporters
- "Unbought and Unbossed" official campaign slogan for Shirley Chisholm
- "McGovern. Democrat. For the People" - George McGovern, 1972
- "He's making us proud again" – Gerald Ford
- "Not Just Peanuts" – Jimmy Carter
- "A Leader, for a Change" (also "Leaders, for a Change") – Jimmy Carter
- "Why not the Best?" – Jimmy Carter
- "Peaches And Cream" Jimmy Carter (from Georgia) and running mate Walter Mondale (from Minnesota)
- "Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?" – Ronald Reagan
- "Let's Make America Great Again" – Ronald Reagan[21]
- "A Tested and Trustworthy Team" – Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale
- "For America, for the people" – 1992 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Bill Clinton
- "It's Time to fix America" – a theme of the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign of Bill Clinton
- "Putting People first" – 1992 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Bill Clinton
- "It's the economy, stupid" – originally intended for an internal audience, it became the de facto slogan for the Bill Clinton campaign
- "Stand by the President" – George H. W. Bush
- "A Proud country" – George H. W. Bush
- "Don't Change my team in the Middle of my Stream" – George H. W. Bush and Dan Quayle
- "America first" – Pat Buchanan
- "Down with King George" – Pat Buchanan, in reference to Bush
- "Send Bush a message" – Pat Buchanan
- "Conservative of America" – Pat Buchanan
- "A Voice for the voiceless" – Pat Buchanan
- "Ross for Boss" – Ross Perot
- "I'm Ross, and you're the Boss!" – Ross Perot
- "Leadership for a Change" – Ross Perot
1996
- "Building a bridge to the twenty-first century" – Bill Clinton
- "Bob Dole. A Better Man. For a Better America." or "The Better Man for a Better America" – Bob Dole
- "Go Pat Go" – Pat Buchanan
2000–present
2000
Republican Party candidates
Democratic Party candidates
Libertarian Party candidates
2008
Democratic Party candidates
- "Yes We Can" – Barack Obama campaign chant, 2008
- "We are the ones we've been waiting for." – 2008 U.S. presidential campaign rallying cry of Barack Obama during the Democratic convention in Denver.
- "Change We Can Believe In." – 2008 US presidential campaign slogan of Barack Obama
- "Change We Need." and "Change." – 2008 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Barack Obama during the general election.
- "Fired up! Ready to go!" – Barack Obama campaign chant, 2008
- "Hope" – 2008 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Barack Obama during the general election.
- "Ready for change, ready to lead" – Hillary Clinton campaign slogan, also "Big Challenges, Real Solutions: Time to Pick a President," "In to Win," "Working for Change, Working for You," and "The strength and experience to make change happen."[22]
Republican Party candidates
- "Country First" – 2008 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of John McCain
- "Reform, prosperity and peace" – 2008 U.S. presidential motto of John McCain.[23] [24]
Independent candidates
Libertarian Party candidates
- "Liberty for America" used by Bob Barr's campaign
Democratic Party candidates
- "Forward" – 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Barack Obama.
- "Middle Class First" - 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Barack Obama.
Republican Party candidates
- "Believe in America" – 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Mitt Romney.
- "America's Comeback Team" – 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Mitt Romney after picking Paul Ryan as his running mate
- "Obama Isn't Working" – slogan used by Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign, a takeoff of "Labour Isn't Working," a similar campaign previously used by the British Conservative Party
- "Restore Our Future" – slogan used by Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign
- "The Courage to Fight for America" – 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Rick Santorum.
- "Restore America Now" – 2012 U.S. presidential slogan of Ron Paul.
Libertarian Party candidates
Green Party candidates
Constitution Party candidates
Republican Party candidates
Democratic Party candidates
Libertarian Party candidates
Green Party candidates
Independents
- "It's never too late to do the right thing" – used by Evan McMullin
Democratic Party candidates
Republican Party candidates
- "Keep America Great" used by Donald Trump's campaign
- "Make America Great Again Again" used by Trump's campaign
- "Promises Made, Promises Kept" used by Trump's campaign
- "Buy American, Hire American" used by Trump's campaign
- "Make Our Farmers Great Again" used by Trump's campaign
- "Build the Wall and Crime Will Fall" used by Trump's campaign
- "Jobs Not Mobs" used by Trump's campaign
- "Leadership America Deserves" used by Bill Weld's campaign
Libertarian Party candidates
- "Real change for real people" used by Jo Jorgensen's campaign.
- "She's With Us" used by Jorgensen's campaign.
- "Don't Vote McAfee" used by John McAfee's campaign
- "Advance Liberty" used by Arvin Vohra's campaign
- "Lincoln for Liberty" used by Lincoln Chafee's campaign.
Green Party candidates
- "For Our Future" used by Howie Hawkins' campaign
- "For an Ecosocialist Green New Deal" used by Hawkins' campaign
Constitution Party candidates
Democratic Party candidates
Republican Party candidates
Libertarian Party candidates
- "Chase-ing Freedom" being used by Chase Oliver's campaign.
- "The Gold New Deal" being used by Mike ter Maat's campaign.
Independent candidate
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Braiker. Brian. They Might Be Onto Something. Newsweek. July 10, 2017. July 14, 2004. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013422/http://www.newsweek.com/2004/07/14/they-might-be-onto-something.html. March 5, 2016.
- Web site: American Political Prints 1766-1876. loc.harpweek.com. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808231852/http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/DisplayCartoonMedium.asp?MaxID=77&UniqueID=27&Year=1840&YearMark=1840. August 8, 2016.
- Web site: 54° 40' or Fight. ushistory.org. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170720111706/http://www.ushistory.org/us/29b.asp. July 20, 2017.
- Web site: Presidential Campaign Slogans. presidentsusa.net. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140208215941/http://www.presidentsusa.net/campaignslogans.html. February 8, 2014.
- News: Berliner . David C. . June 3, 1973 . Frelinghuysen: Moderate Republican . The New York Times . New York, NY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180510010657/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/03/archives/frelinghuysen-moderate-republican-an-affluent-district.html . May 10, 2018 .
- Book: 2005 . Heritage-Slater Political Memorabilia and Americana Auction Catalog #625 . Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc. . Dallas, TX . 179 . 9781932899672.
- Web site: Slogans in Presidential Campaigns. The Center for Civic Education. 2013-10-18. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019124233/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/mock-election/teachers-guide/2012/pdfs/slogans-in-presidential-elections.pdf. October 19, 2013.
- Web site: The Quick 10: 10 Campaign Slogans of the Past . . October 8, 2008 . May 27, 2016 . Conradt, Stacy . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160624225748/http://mentalfloss.com/article/19807/quick-10-10-campaign-slogans-past . June 24, 2016 .
- Web site: Posters and Election Propaganda: "America First" Communication Management and Design Ithaca College. ithaca.edu. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831175050/https://www.ithaca.edu/rhp/programs/cmd/blogs/posters_and_election_propaganda/america_first/. August 31, 2017.
- Web site: One Hundred Years Ago, Eugene Debs Gave An Anti-War Speech That Landed Him in Prison . Common Dreams . January 25, 2019 . en.
- https://www.hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/Hooverstory/gallery05/index.html Gallery 5: The Logical Candidate
- https://catalog.archives.gov/id/187095 A Chicken for Every Pot
- Web site: "The Buck Stops Here" Desk sign Harry S. Truman. 2020-10-12. trumanlibrary.gov.
- Web site: 1960. July 5, 2011.
- Web site: 1964 redux: The stakes are too high for you to stay at home. May 12, 2016.
- Web site: John . Nichols . Eugene McCarthy's Lyrical Politics . The Nation (blog) . December 11, 2005 . 2016-03-06 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307185208/http://www.thenation.com/article/eugene-mccarthys-lyrical-politics/ . March 7, 2016 .
- http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1972/nixon-now Nixon Now (Nixon, 1972)
- News: Nichols . John . October 19, 2012 . The Genius of McGovern's 'Come Home, America' Vision . The Nation . New York, NY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161020041359/https://www.thenation.com/article/genius-mcgoverns-come-home-america-vision/ . October 20, 2016 .
- Book: Dudden, Arthur Power. American Humor. May 10, 1989. Oxford University Press. Google Books. 9780195050547.
- Web site: Will Rabbe, Producer, Journalist & Historian – Blog – Most Underrated Political Slogan: "They Can't Lick Our Dick". willrabbe.com. en. 2017-04-22.
- News: Tumulty . Karen . How Donald Trump came up with 'Make America Great Again' . July 13, 2019 . . January 18, 2017 . en.
- News: Ben. Smith. Undecided: Hillary keeps shifting slogans. Politico. January 3, 2008. 2016-02-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302232133/http://www.politico.com/story/2008/01/undecided-hillary-keeps-shifting-slogans-007685. March 2, 2016.
- News: Brian . Montopoli . June 17, 2008 . McCain's Slogan: "Reform, Prosperity and Peace" . CBS News . 2016-03-06 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307172529/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccains-slogan-reform-prosperity-and-peace/ . March 7, 2016 .
- Hollywood double takes (#3) Web site: Hollywood double takes: Actors who take on famous faces - NY Daily News . . 2012-01-03 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20111224062936/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/hollywood-double-takes-actors-famous-faces-gallery-1.76789 . December 24, 2011 .
- News: Sweeney . Dan . Jeb comes to South Florida, sans exclamation mark . . December 28, 2015 . 2015-12-30 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160302131443/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/power-lunch/sfl-jeb-comes-to-south-florida-sans-exclamation-mark-20151228-htmlstory.html . March 2, 2016 .
- News: Killough . Ashley . Jeb Bush, the 'joyful tortoise,' gives out tiny toy turtles on trail . . January 6, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170830102448/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/jeb-bush-turtle-tortoise-joyful/index.html . August 30, 2017 .
- Web site: 2016 Presidential Campaign Slogan Survey. tagline guru. 2015-10-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151029035417/http://www.taglineguru.com/2016campaignslogansurvey.html. October 29, 2015.
- News: Allen . Mike . Rand Paul unveils populist, anti-establishment slogan . . April 6, 2015 . 2015-12-30 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151228185551/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/rand-paul-2016-campaign-slogan-116685 . December 28, 2015 .
- News: Nelson . Angela . Huckabee's Hope is From "Tree Town" to Higher Ground . . Pilot Knob Broadcasting . December 26, 2015 . 2015-12-30 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111516/http://kiow.com/2015/12/26/huckabees-hope-is-from-tree-town-to-higher-ground/ . March 4, 2016 .
- Web site: Designers critique campaign logos. Ashley Killough. CNN. July 3, 2015 . 2018-10-01.
- News: Campaign 2016: Carly Fiorina, GOP Presidential Candidate. Council on Foreign Relations. 2018-10-01. en.
- News: Benen . Steve . Steve Benen . Michelle Obama: 'When they go low, we go high' . . July 26, 2016 . 2016-10-19 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018103700/http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/michelle-obama-when-they-go-low-we-go-high . October 18, 2016 .