The Art Of Politics At RetroCampaigns.com

Re-imagined, digitally aged, and carefully printed on vintage-style fabric Retro Campaigns have just released another batch of past presidential campaigns for the politically nostalgic t-shirt fan. Expect more familiar names from the American role call of leaders, the good, the bad and the ugly are all present to swear their oath of allegiance to kitsch fashion on a monumental scale. Look out for new tees featuring landmark characters of the political landscape such as JFK, Bobby Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, as well as less well known campaigners such as Barry Goldwater and Adlai Stevenson.

It must say something about our present culture when politics of a bye-gone era can warm our hearts and bring a smile to our faces. Perhaps it’s simply because there was a distinct lack of marketing savvy, image branding was something you did to a cow’s rear end, and a spin doctor was more likely busy selling phony medicines and potions from the back of a car in a one-horse town than teaching the future leader of the country how to effectively ‘bend the truth’ to his own advantage. Don’t get me wrong, politicians were always crooked, in fact I prefer the ones who lie about who they bedded and where than those who decide to lead a country up the garden path without a by nor leave, ending their term halfway through a bloody war, recession, political cover-up, or a rather brutal combination of all three.

The truth is no one person is in charge these days, besides the fact we live and die to serve a so-called global market, hence the constant hand-shaking and brow furrowing of just about every leader in the world, but beyond that it’s the corporate world, or rather the few that own the lion share of the remaining profitable corporations in the world. They call the shots. The president of the USA, no matter what his or her name or colour of their skin, and every other president and prime-minister of the democratic world serve the money men, and charge us for the privilege. If there’s money to made then some faceless billionaire or other is sure to back a political (marketing) campaign to the hilt, but always under certain conditions, be it corporate taxes, citizenship, or turning a blind eye to environmental damage, for instance. Still, we always have the soft focus of rose-tinted nostalgia to help us take our minds off the state of the world today, so let’s take a dip back into the corny campaigns of presidents past, and smile at the naivet√© of what was once considered state-of-the-art political coercion.

Sock It To ‘Em Bobby Tee

One of many t-shirt designs for tragic 1968 Robert F. Kennedy campaign, who was infamously shot dead during celebrations of his successful campaign in the Californian primary elections while seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Sock It To ‘Em Bobby alongside RFK For The USA are two of the funkiest of RC’s collection of designs. Which is not surprising considering that this was indeed the height of the Psychedelic Movement both in the USA and around the world. Both are available for $19.99 for men (small to XXL) and women (small to XL).

Wilkie Minuteman Tee

Prior to and during World War II, the Revolutionary War icon The Minuteman was resurrected as part of campaign to convince Americans to buy war bonds. Wendell Lewis Willkie (who eventually lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt) supported the effort and encouraged his supporters to participate. Unfortunately the term ‘Minute Man’ might have rather different connotations these days, something I’d expect to see promoting Viagra rather than a presidential candidate. On a more serious note after a violent race riot broke out in Detroit, killing 34 people, Wendell Willkie (1892 ‚Äì 1944), spoke out passionately on national radio against both Democrats and Republicans for failing to address civil rights for African Americans. On some counts the man was way ahead of his time and it’s a great shame that the American public weren’t quicker to catch on to the message. Get the Wilkie Minuteman Tee for for $19.99 for men (small to XXL) and women (small to XL).

Check out RetroCampaigns.com whole collection today, including their new selection of kid’s tees too!