Campaign Issues May Fade, but Souvenirs Endure
Americans routinely used to wear their political hearts on their sleeves — or at least on their lapels. George Washington proudly displayed his own on his chest when he was inaugurated as the nation’s first president, where Federal Hall now stands in Lower Manhattan.
Nearly two centuries later, in 1968, a 10-year-old Manhattan student named Jordan M. Wright glommed a handful of Bobby Kennedy for President buttons from a Midtown campaign headquarters. Since then, Mr. Wright, a New York lawyer and magazine publisher, has amassed a collection of political paraphernalia that he estimates now includes more than one million items.
He has donated the collection to a foundation he created to establish a Museum of Democracy in the city. He lent many of the items promoting local candidates and causes to the Museum of the City of New York for an exhibition, “Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election,” scheduled to open in June.
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Nearly two centuries later, in 1968, a 10-year-old Manhattan student named Jordan M. Wright glommed a handful of Bobby Kennedy for President buttons from a Midtown campaign headquarters. Since then, Mr. Wright, a New York lawyer and magazine publisher, has amassed a collection of political paraphernalia that he estimates now includes more than one million items.
He has donated the collection to a foundation he created to establish a Museum of Democracy in the city. He lent many of the items promoting local candidates and causes to the Museum of the City of New York for an exhibition, “Campaigning for President: New York and the American Election,” scheduled to open in June.