Pinback button promoting Theodore Roosevelt for president, 1916.
The million dollar question in 1916 was whether Teddy would throw his hat in the ring. Despite appeals from Progressive Party organizers to carry their banner once again, he demurred, realizing that his only hope of regaining the White House was to repair relations with the GOP. Instead, he endorsed Hughes, knowing that if his erstwhile protege were elected, he would be a king-maker, and if Hughes lost, the nomination would be his in 1920.
A handful of T.R. buttons were circulated in 1916, all fairly scarce and sought after.
