The John F. Kennedy Atlantic City Tropicana Casino Pinback Button
August 14 , 2022 - People often ask me what is your favorite campaign button. For me what makes a campaign button most special is the experience of finding it at a flea market , campaign headquarters , political rally , antique store and in this instance a casino in Atlantic City , New Jersey.
In the summer of 2002 , the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City hosted an exhibit of John F. Kennedy memorabilia. While a casino might seem a strange location for a display of JFK artifacts its not that unusual. In addition to hosting top music acts to attract customers to the gaming tables , casinos sometimes have added attractions such as classic cars , movie costumes and props and in this case a display of items from the 35th President of The United States John F. Kennedy.
Upon arrival at the Tropicana I walked through the casino on my way to the Kennedy exhibit. To advertise upcoming events to be held in the casino , employees often wear promotional pinback buttons for sporting events , concerts and in this instance one for the Kennedy exhibit. I was hoping that perhaps the JFK exhibit would have a gift store selling the button , but no luck. This was a button that was not far sale and was available to only the casino employees.
Once I left the exhibit , I went back to the casino floor hoping maybe one of the employees would be willing to sell the button. I positioned myself in the center of the casino by a bar where there was plenty of foot traffic hoping to spot the Kennedy button.
Eventually a casino employee came by and after a brief negotiation I was able to acquire this very unusual John F. Kennedy campaign button. Now that I had the JFK button in my hands it was time for a closer examination.
The button , which measures two and a quarter inches in diameter , features a photo President Kennedy along with First Lady Jackie Kennedy on the White House balcony that was taken in 1961. The button also has quite a bit of information beginning around the red and blue curl with the words "The John F. Kennedy Presidential Exhibition." Then on the photo itself is printed "Over 400 Personal Items" and finally the location and name of the casino "Atlantic City Tropicana."
What a great find and what a great John F. Kennedy campaign button. The John F. Kennedy Atlantic City Tropicana Casino is now one my favorite buttons.
To see the JFK casino pinback and other Kennedy campaign buttons click on the following link: President John F. Kennedy Campaign Buttons