Politics Makes for Strange Campaign Memorabilia

As the saying goes, politics makes for strange bedfellows. Although in the case of these items developed for Nebraska political candidates, it might be more accurate to say politics makes for strange campaign memorabilia.

At first glance, this little pig and binoculars do not look like campaign memorabilia. When you look through the hole in the pig’s behind, however, you’ll see an image of William Jennings Bryan and the words “For President.” This funny little item is called a stanhope. Stanhopes contain miniature photographs and magnifying lenses and this technique was incorporated in many novelty collectibles produced from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Nebraskan William Jennings Bryan ran for president in 1896, 1900, and 1908, but was never elected. (NSHS 11055-926)

In 1956 Terry Carpenter, delegate to the Republican National Convention from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was unhappy about the lack of a challenger to Richard Nixon’s nomination as vice-president. Carpenter decided to protest by casting his vote for the fictional “Joe Smith,” throwing the convention into an uproar. Although “Smith” never made it to the ballot, the Democrats adopted him as an anti-Nixon symbol. Carpenter, known by some as “Terrible Terry,” served a term as a Nebraska congressman and many years as a state senator. He also ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate five times and for governor four times. He even created his own town just outside of Scottsbluff.