Top 15 Presidential Campaign Slogans

Presidential campaigns are a time when avid supporters of each candidate put signs in their yards, wear buttons, put bumper stickers on their cars, and yell cheers at rallies. Over the years, many campaigns have come up with slogans either in favor of their candidate or ridiculing their opponent. Following is a list of fifteen popular campaign slogans selected for their interest or importance in the campaigns themselves to provide a taste of what these slogans are all about.

01
of 15

Tippecanoe and Tyler Too

Cincinnati Cityscapes And City Views
Raymond Boyd / Getty Images

William Henry Harrison was known as the hero of Tippecanoe when his troops successfully defeated the Indian Confederacy in Indiana in 1811. This is also according to legend the beginning of Tecumseh's Curse. He was selected to run for the presidency in 1840. He and his running mate, John Tyler, won the election using the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too."

02
of 15

We Polked you in '44, We shall Pierce you in '52

Cotton Flag Banner
Corbis via Getty Images / Getty Images

In 1844, Democrat James K. Polk was elected as president. He retired after one term and Whig candidate Zachary Taylor became president in 1852. In 1848, the Democrats successfully ran Franklin Pierce for the presidency using this slogan.

03
of 15

Don't Swap Horses in Midstream

Gettysburg Address
Library of Congress / Getty Images

This presidential campaign slogan was successfully used two times while America was in the depths of war. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln used it during the American Civil War. In 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt won his fourth term using this slogan during World War II.

04
of 15

He Kept Us Out of War

President Woodrow Wilson
Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Woodrow Wilson won his second term in 1916 using this slogan referring to the fact that America had stayed out of World War I to this point. Ironically, during his second term, Woodrow would indeed lead America into the fight.

05
of 15

Return to Normalcy

Senator Warren Harding Making a Recording
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

In 1920, Warren G. Harding won the presidential election using this slogan. It refers to the fact that World War I had recently ended, and he promised to guide America back to "normal."

06
of 15

Happy Days Are Here Again

Franklin Roosevelt Delivers Radio Address
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt adopted the song, "Happy Days Are Here Again" sung by Lou Levin. America was in the depths of the Great Depression and the song was chosen as a foil to candidate Herbert Hoover's leadership when the depression began.

07
of 15

Roosevelt for Ex-President

Wendel L. Willkie Waving in Limousine During Parade
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms as president. His Republican opponent during his unprecedented third presidential election in 1940 was Wendell Wilkie, who attempted to defeat the incumbent by using this slogan.

08
of 15

Give Em Hell, Harry

Harry Truman Speaking at Press Conference
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Both a nickname and a slogan, this was used to help bring Harry Truman to victory over Thomas E. Dewey in the 1948 election. The Chicago Daily Tribune erroneously printed "Dewey Defeats Truman" based on exit polls the night before.

09
of 15

I Like Ike

Dwight Eisenhower
M. McNeill / Getty Images

The quintessentially likeable hero of World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, rose handily to the presidency in 1952 with this slogan proudly displayed on supporters' buttons across the nation. Some continued the slogan when he ran again in 1956, changing it to "I Still Like Ike."

10
of 15

All the Way With LBJ

Lyndon B. Johnson at Press Conference
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

In 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson used this slogan to successfully win the presidency against Barry Goldwater with over 90% of the electoral votes.

11
of 15

AUH2O

Barry Goldwater Giving Victory Sign
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

This was a clever representation of Barry Goldwater's name during the 1964 election. Au is the symbol for the element Gold and H2O is the molecular formula for water. Goldwater lost in a landslide to Lyndon B. Johnson.

12
of 15

Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?

Ronald Reagan
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

This slogan was used by Ronald Reagan in his 1976 bid for the presidency against incumbent Jimmy Carter. It has recently been used again by Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign against incumbent Barack Obama.

13
of 15

It's the Economy, Stupid

President Bill Clinton
Dirck Halstead / Getty Images

When campaign strategist James Carville joined Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for president, he created this slogan to great effect. From this point on, Clinton focused on the economy and rose to victory over George H. W. Bush.

14
of 15

Change We Can Believe In

Obama Returns To Campaign Trail At Rally For NJ Gubernatorial Candidate
Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Barack Obama led his party to victory in the 2008 presidential election with this slogan often simply reduced to one word: Change. It mainly referred to changing presidential policies after eight years with George W. Bush as president.

15
of 15

Believe in America

Mitt Romney Addresses Silicon Slopes Summit In Salt Lake City
George Frey / Getty Images

Mitt Romney espoused "Believe in America" as his campaign slogan against incumbent Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election referring to his belief that his opponent does not espouse national pride about being an American.

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Kelly, Martin. "Top 15 Presidential Campaign Slogans." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/top-presidential-campaign-slogans-104625. Kelly, Martin. (2023, April 5). Top 15 Presidential Campaign Slogans. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/top-presidential-campaign-slogans-104625 Kelly, Martin. "Top 15 Presidential Campaign Slogans." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-presidential-campaign-slogans-104625 (accessed March 19, 2024).