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What Hooked Me On Political Items: By Ted Watts

At a Democratic beer party in Indianapolis in the summer of 1960 my attention was riveted on the shirt of a senior party activist. It was adorned with old Democratic campaign buttons - many from the 1930s, especially FDR. Seeing these old buttons reminded me of walking down the street with my mother as she went to vote in 1932 - only two houses away. Tables outside were piled with FDR buttons. Don’t know why I didn’t pick up at least one.

Anyway, the next day at work I asked my co-worker and hobbyist Jeanette Baldwin to borrow one of her hobby magazines. Sure enough, I found a dealer in political items in Iowa and I was hooked. In those days you could buy an 1876 jugate for $2.75.

I joined APIC as soon as I heard about it (No. 146) and held an APIC meeting at my house in Silver Spring, Maryland, soon after. Herb Collins, the Smithsonian curator, Ken Broyles, Chick Harris, and of course those two students from Georgetown Prep - Steve Ackerman and Mike Kelly (of the Keynoter) - were in attendance.

In the '60s, Ted Hake, Leon Weisel and I were hoping to start up a serious journal devoted to history as depicted by political items. Sadly it never got beyond the talking stage.

It has been and continues to be a very rewarding hobby. I’ve met a lot of great fellow collectors and have learned more American history than I ever would have even as a history major.

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