Presidential pageantry has always been a part of American politics, from the grandeur of Inauguration Day to campaign-trail theatrics to victory celebrations. Through the years, presidents have shown an affinity for flair—whether it’s cheesy campaign logos, over-the-top merchandise, photoshopped portraits, or massive inaugural parade floats. In these five stories, we explore how presidents spare no expense when it comes to making an impression.
Presidential Campaigns of the 1800s Involved A Surprising Amount of Flags and Throw Pillows
By Anika Burgess
While William Henry Harrison may be our shortest-tenured president, his legacy still lives on every campaign season. His campaign in 1840 was the first to rely heavily on marketing—including slogans, songs, and swag. And some of his most popular merchandise included neckties, whiskey decanters, pitchers, and flags. You could call him the founding father of election merchandise.
The Great Lengths Taken to Make Abraham Lincoln Look Good in Portraits
By Michael Waters
Though handsomely memorialized in statues and the five dollar bill today, Abraham Lincoln was widely considered unattractive in his day. Thanks to photo composition and early methods of editing, though, the media told a different story. For instance, after Lincoln’s death, a portrait painter superimposed Lincoln’s face onto the less-gangly body of John C. Calhoun.
U.S. Presidents Do Have Spending Limits for Securing Private Homes
By Sarah Laskow
The U.S. government spent more than $1 million on renovations for Richard Nixon’s multiple private estates, valued at more than $5.4 million total in today’s dollars. While a good deal of the work was for security purposes, which skyrocketed after Kennedy’s assassination, some of it was considered excessive. So, thanks to Richard Nixon’s expensive taste, there are now limits restricting how much presidents can spend on their own homes.
A History of Embarrassing Presidential Campaign Logos
By Jessie Guy-Ryan
While Barack Obama’s 2008 logo set a positive new standard for initial-based campaign logos, this wasn’t always the case. John M. Ashbrook, a Republican nominee in 1972, had a logo featuring a left-pointing arrow with a superimposed “No” symbol. While it was meant to signal that Ashbrook avoided leftist politics, it actually looked like the “No” symbol applied to his name. Over the years, many other campaign logos have achieved similar failures.
Where Parade Floats Go to Retire
By Atlas Obscura Video Team
A 30-foot-long limousine, massive polar bears, a towering 29-foot-tall eagle, and dozens of other retired inauguration day parade floats end their journey at the American Celebration on Parade. The museum isn’t just home to inaugural floats, but for all sorts of political parades, including Miss America Parades, Thanksgiving Day Parades, the Rose Parade, and more.
