Key chain, Dwight Eisenhower, 1952
name: label: associated person
content: Eisenhower, Dwight D.
notes: label: Description
content: “I Like Ike” is one of the most memorable campaign slogans in American history. It was based on the nickname of Dwight Eisenhower who became famous not as a politician but as a military leader. A five-star general, Eisenhower’s role as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II made him an attractive post-war candidate to both Republicans and Democrats. Each party tried to convince him to become their presidential nominee in 1952. The Republican “Draft Eisenhower” movement gained momentum using the “I Like Ike” slogan months before Eisenhower officially agreed to contend for the party’s nomination.
label: Description
content: The slogan appeared on a wide variety of campaign items such as this key chain. It was also heard in the most frequently run television ad of Eisenhower’s campaign. The soundtrack for an animated ad, produced by the Disney Studios, included a jingle with this chorus:
label: Description
content: “You like Ike, I like Ike, everybody likes Ike for President.
label: Description
content: Bring out the banners, beat the drums, we'll take Ike to Washington.”
label: Description
content: The majority of voters did like him—Eisenhower defeated his Democratic opponent Adlai Stevenson II twice, in 1952 and 1956.
topic: label: general subject association
content: Political Campaigns
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, Campaign Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
label: See more items in
content: American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith
label: Exhibition
content: American Democracy
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Ralph E. Becker Campaign of Political Americana
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PL.227739.1952.X124
label: catalog number
content: 227739.1952.X124
label: accession number
content: 227739
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Keychain
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall chain material)
label: Measurements
content: overall including chain: 3 1/2 in x 3/4 in; 8.89 cm x 1.905 cm