These Campaign Slogans Made Men into U.S. Presidents

When Presidential elections occur in the United States, sometimes a witty catchphrase from a campaign can captivate and inspire millions of potential voters. In many ways, campaign slogans from White House wannabes have become mission statements or declarations of an entire agenda. Perhaps the most recent example is Donald Trump's “Make America Great Again.” In today's piece, we're taking a look at other campaign slogans that helped propel their candidate into the White House.

• Year: 1960
• Candidate: John F. Kennedy

Reflecting Kennedy’s campaign theme of a “New Frontier” for bold change in the United States, his campaign slogan, “A Time For Greatness,” portrayed him as someone who could help usher America through a pivotal point in history. Between the Cold War, Civil Rights, and the space race, Kennedy played into America’s belief that it should be great, and it resonated with voters. 

• Year: 1872
• Candidate: Ulysses S. Grant

Following some of the rockiest times in US history with the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant hoped that with the 1872 election, he could usher America through Reconstruction and bring the country back together. His slogan, “Grant Us Another Term,” was meant to play into the idea that the Union had succeeded in victory and that granting him another term was the right way to say thank you.

• Year: 1932
• Candidate: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Amid the Great Depression, America desperately needed change, and Franklin Roosevelt promised that with his slogan, “Happy Days Are Here Again.” With unemployment at 25%, Roosevelt faced an uphill battle promising weary Americans that change was possible. Still, with public confidence in Hoover at an all-time low, Roosevelt’s slogan resonated as a promise to make serious changes. 

• Year: 1976
• Candidate: Jimmy Carter

This campaign slogan, designed to counter the idea that Jimmy Carter was too modest to run the country as a former Georgia peanut farmer, played into Carter’s identity while promising change. Running against incumbent Gerald Ford, concerns over the end of the Vietnam War and stagflation helped Carter emerge as the right candidate at the right time with his slogan. 

• Year: 1840
• Candidate: William Henry Harrison

Widely considered one of the most popular campaign slogans in presidential history, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” deeply resonated with voters. After being plastered on buttons and other merchandise, the slogan increased voter turnout and heavily influenced Harrison’s role as a war hero after the 1811 Tecumseh War, during which he led the Battle of Tippecanoe. 

• Year: 1916
• Candidate: Woodrow Wilson

As the rest of the world descended into global conflict in the early stages of World War I, “He Kept Us Out of War” was a rallying slogan for Woodrow Wilson. Hoping to remind voters of his efforts to keep America out of the war in Europe, it resonated with voters who didn’t want to see America join the conflict. Of course, it took only 34 days after his election before Wilson committed America to war. 

• Year: 1900
• Candidate: William McKinley

Hoping to emphasize McKinley’s promise of continued American economic prosperity and job security, William McKinley’s slogan resonated deeply with working-class voters. This was a period of industrial expansion, and McKinley saw restoring the economy, starting with his election in 1897. As wages rose for workers, his campaign slogan sought to remind these voters of exactly this promise. 

• Year: 1852
• Candidate: Franklin Pierce

A campaign slogan that likely wouldn’t fly today, this 1852 campaign slogan hoped to sell the country to Franklin Pierce, who would continue James Polk’s 1844 campaign plans to expand American territory. Playing on the names of both candidates, Pierce’s campaign saw that as more of an unknown candidate, connecting him with James Polk would help him resonate with voters, and it worked. 

• Year: 1864
• Candidate: Abraham Lincoln

Widely considered one of America’s greatest political figures, “Don’t Swap Horses In Midstream” became a rallying cry for Abraham Lincoln’s campaign in 1864. Looking for a second term in office, the term was used to remind voters that with Lincoln in office, there would be a stable government while the country was in the midst of a Civil War, compared to a candidate who wanted to make peace with the Confederacy. 

• Year: 1980
• Candidate: Ronald Reagan

Coming out of the challenging 1970s and running against an unpopular Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan’s slogan “Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?” resonated with voters in a big way. Between the Iran hostage crisis, stagflation, and high unemployment, Reagan challenged voters to think whether they were better off with Carter or his promise of economic renewal and restoring American pride. 

• Year: 1924
• Candidate: Calvin Coolidge

Reflecting Calvin Coolidge’s calm demeanor during his first term, “Keep Cool with Coolidge” was a campaign slogan that reminded voters what they liked most about Coolidge’s first term. Often referred to as “Silent Cal” for his reserved personality, Coolidge was the opposite of the more flamboyant political figures of the 1920s, and this campaign tagline resonated with voters and helped propel him back to the White House. 

• Year: 1928
• Candidate: Herbert Hoover

A lengthy campaign slogan to be certain, Herbert Hoover’s “A Chicken In Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage” deeply resonated with voters who wanted to keep the roaring 1920s going. Surprisingly, Hoover never uttered these words as the Republican Party created the slogan as part of a 1928 newspaper ad highlighting America’s current economic prosperity. 

• Year: 1952
• Candidate: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Conceived by Roy Disney of the Walt Disney Company and the Eisenhower campaign, "I Like Ike" helped elect the former military man. Arguably considered one of the most iconic slogans in US presidential campaigns, it was short and straightforward and resonated with voters who heard it repeatedly as they headed to the polls, allowing Eisenhower to win office in a landslide. 

• Year: 2008
• Candidate: Barack Obama

As the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama was initially a dark horse candidate to win the presidential election. However, his underdog story wouldn’t last long, as his victory over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary was a long shot. After winning the nomination and running against John McCain, Obama saw “Yes We Can” as a chant at his rallies, a cry for change that Democrats longed for. 

• Year: 2016
• Candidate: Donald Trump

An American political slogan utilized by President Trump in his 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential campaigns, “MAGA,” has become a phenomenon. It's available on hats, flags, posters, t-shirts, and anything you can write on. It even spawned the acronym “MAGA,” which refers to President Trump’s political base. Initially used by Trump in 2011, this campaign slogan is a variant of a slogan used by both Presidents Reagan and Clinton before being associated with the current president.