Collector to discuss political memorabilia before second Democratic debate

Jerry Higgins will discuss political memorabilia and show off items from his own collection in the Truman Lounge before Democratic presidential candidates gather for their second debate on Wednesday, July 31.

The second night of that debate will air on the televisions in the National Press Club lounge after Higgins speaks at 6:30 p.m.

Higgins has spent decades collecting campaign artifacts and will discuss how candidates and their supporters wielded memorabilia to win over voters.

His oldest token was made in 1841 for the inauguration of William Henry Harrison.

“Back then the button was a coin that they drilled a hole in at the top that they put a string or ribbon through so they could wear it like a necklace,” Higgins said. “Buttons as we know them started really showing up in 1896 for the race between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. They would sometimes be given out with cigarettes and other things.”

A senior executive with Sage/CQ Press Publishing, Higgins has been collecting presidential memorabilia since 1972. He works out of a building well entrenched in presidential history: the Watergate.

He started his collection during the 1972 election when he babysat the children of a woman who would bring back Nixon/Agnew buttons she picked up while volunteering.

“I had to get McGovern/Eagleton - and then McGovern/Shriver - buttons as well, to balance things out,” Higgins said.. “And so it began.”

He recently bought a collection of 60 buttons from 1896 to 1948, which were smaller more recent buttons but "were really beautiful with the colors and the photographs and the development of slogans.”

Higgins's collection also includes dolls, license plates, toys, and other campaign-related items.

His talk is sponsored by the Club's Events Team.