12 Funny Presidential Slogans That Didn T Go Down Well

Campaigning is one of the major components that make up an election battle. Particularly in America, where prospective presidential candidates and their parties spend billions of dollars. Those wanting the top job have to sell themselves and their policies any way they can. This includes radio adverts, TV spots, billboards, pamphlets, and of course, a solid presidential slogan. A phrase or slogan that is catchy and resonates with people can be a big difference between winning and losing an election. And while there have been plenty of great catchphrases over the years, there have been just as many funny presidential slogans that have failed to get the message across as intended.  For every “Change We Can Believe In” – Barack Obama, 2008 or “Putting People First” – Bill Clinton, 1990, there’s a silly, questionable, or funny presidential slogan that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Surprisingly, some of these slogans actually worked and helped get the candidate get elected, but for the most, they are part of the reason for failed bids at claiming the White House. Read on and discover some of the funny presidential slogans and the stories behind them.  12 Funny Presidential Slogans That Didn’t Go Down Well

1. “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” – Alfred E Smith The Worsh Ahts/YouTube Yep, “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” was an actual slogan used during an election. Alfred E Smith, a New York governor who ran for the Democratic nomination in 1928 thought he could win the vote with this outlandish slogan. While it seems x-rated, there’s actually a reason behind Smith going with this phrase.  As someone who was against Prohibition, he was labeled “wet” for his love of the booze. Hoping to use this to his advantage, he and his team came up with “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True,” playing on his nickname. While that may be the case, there is no doubt Smith knew his slogan had a sexual undercurrent and was hoping to capitalize on the buzz it would bring.  Sadly for Smith, it backfired and he lost the election to Republican Herbert Hoover, whose campaign slogan was “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage.” 
2. “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts” – Lyndon B Johnson TheLBJLibrary/YouTube The 1964 presidential election was hotly contested between Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B johnson. Goldwater ran with the slogan “In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right,” a fairly innocuous slogan trying to appeal to people to vote with their hearts, which isn’t always a good thing.  Not to be outdone, Johnson came back with the hilarious slogan, “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts.” While a little crude, it worked in Johnson’s favor, with the politician winning a landslide victory. He would go on to serve one term and bring about many reforms and changes to America that are still impacting today. 
3. “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52” – Franklin Pierce Mr. Beat/YouTube After helping his friend and colleague James K Polk win the 1844 presidential election, Franklin Pierce wanted a slice of the pie for himself. Referring to Polk’s win and his own ambitions, Pierce went with the slogan “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52.”  A clever play on both their names, the phrase was a little racy for the times, but that didn’t seem to deter the American public. Pierce was elected president over General Winfield Scott and would go on to serve one term in the Oval Office. 
4. “Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” – Abraham Lincoln

“Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” sounds like something you might read in a fortune cookie, but it was the slogan President Abraham Lincoln went with during his re-election campaign in 1864. At that time America was deep in the Civil War, and while Lincoln had great support, he was worried about the outcome of the election.  The slogan he used urged voters not to abandon him halfway through the job. He wanted the American public to stick with him so they could win the Civil War, abolish slavery, and really make a difference. Lincoln was successful and managed to fulfill his promises before he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just five days after the war ended.  5. “Jeb!” – Jeb Bush Rich Koele/Shutterstock Can you get any lazier? Jeb Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush and younger brother of former President George W. Bush, threw his hat in the ring during the 2016 American elections. Backed by the Bush name and billions of dollars, the eldest Bush sibling and his team came up with the slogan “Jeb!” As you can imagine, the media had a field day with the slogan, and Bush was mercilessly roasted. Not only is the font laughable, but “Jeb!” is something you would think a five-year-old would come up with. When questioned about the use of an exclamation point for the slogan by late-night host Stephen Colbert, Bush replied, “It connotes excitement.” Unsurprisingly Bush didn’t get the nod to become the Republican candidate and ended up endorsing Ted Cruz, another failure.  6. “Ma Ma, Where’s My Pa?” –  James G Blaine wikipedia tts/YouTube Gutter politics isn’t something new. James G Blaine went down that route during the 1884 presidential election. His opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland, was believed to have fathered an illegitimate child, and wanting to cash in on this controversy, Blaine began using the funny political slogan, “Ma Man, Where’s My Pa?” Not to be outdone, Cleveland came up with a rhyme of his own, “Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine.” It all seems a little childish, but that’s politics for you. Cleveland ended up getting the last laugh, winning the election, and having one final dig at Blaine with the slogan, “Gone to the White House, ha ha ha.”  7. “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair” – William Howard Taft Everett Collection/Shutterstock Endorsed by outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft clinched the 1908 presidential election. By the time it came around to his re-election, the political landscape had changed quite a bit. Roosevelt abandoned the Republican Party and started his own, the Progressive Party (or Bull Moose Party). Then there was Taft himself, who hated campaigning and believed the public didn’t like him.  Taft “had a sense that Americans hated him,” Margaret Kaplan, an editorial assistant at Apollo Publishers who worked on Words to Win By told the History channel. “He hated being on the campaign trail, he always wanted to be golfing in his free time, he didn’t like working very much… His slogans, they make me chuckle because it’s like he doesn’t even want it.” The above statement is evident in Taft’s re-election slogan; “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair,” or, in lamens terms, “You Already Voted Me in Once so Might as Well Keep Me Here.” Taft would end up coming third with just 23% of the popular vote, beaten by runner-up Roosevelt and winner Woodrow Wilson.

See more about - All 50 American State Welcome Signs

8. “He’s Making Us Proud Again” – Gerald Ford mark reinstein/Shutterstock This is another political slogan that doesn’t sound that funny, but when put in context, will have you smirking. Gerald Ford only came to office after the Watergate scandal saw Richard Nixon resign from the top job. Looking to get re-elected off his own back, Ford ran with the slogan “He’s Making Us Proud Again.” It didn’t really gel with voters, with the slogan reminding them that Republican Ford had pardoned Nixon from all his crimes. Ford also had buttons made that read “WIN”, meaning “Whip Inflation Now,” along with one that read “A Used Ford Is Better Than a New Carter,” in reference to his opponent Jimmy Carter. The media weren’t fans of his work and neither was the public, with Carter claiming the presidency easily. The win meant Ford became the only American president to serve without actually being voted in. 
9. “Play Safe With Hoover” – Herbert Hoover theCarbonFreeze/YouTube At first glance, this might not seem overly funny, but in the context of the time, it was a laughable way to promote his campaign. Herbert Hoover had a tough first year as president, having to deal with the stock market crash and the beginnings of the Great Depression. Looking to stay in office for a second term, he ran with the slogan, “Play Safe With Hoover,” which didn’t really catch the public’s imagination. Most were still struggling through the Great Depression and didn’t see how sticking “safe” with Hoover was going to help them. It proved to be a moot point, with Hoover getting smashed at the polls by Franklin D Roosevelt, who went with the slogan, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
10. “Feel the Bern” – Bernie Sanders Senator Bernie Sanders/YouTube The unofficial slogan of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 stab at the election became one of his official phrases during the 2020 election cycle. Coined by People for Bernie organizer Winnie Wong, “Feel the Bern” became a funny campaign slogan that anchored Sanders’ tilt at the Democratic leadership in 2020.  It’s a great slogan and one that people embraced, but it wasn’t enough for Sanders to beat Joe Biden, who would eventually go on and defeat Donald Trump to become the 46th U.S. President. 
11. “Cox and Cocktails” – James Cox Unknown; from records of the U.S. Information Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons This slogan is certainly one way to get people talking about your presidential campaign. The 1920 election was contested between Republican Senator Warren G. Harding and Democratic Governor James Cox. Coincidently both were newspaper editors who hailed from Ohio, but that’s where the similarities ended.  Harding was very much in favor of Prohibition, while Cox was opposed to it. Looking to paint Cox as a booze hound, Harding ran with the slogan “Cox and Cocktails,” letting voters know they would be getting an alcoholic if they voted for Cox. It’s quite a clever quip, and combined with his other major slogan, “Return to normalcy,” Harding got the job done easily, winning a whopping 60% of the popular vote and 71% of the electoral vote. 
12. “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide” – Alfred M Landon British Pathé/YouTube Most people love a good pun, and that’s what Alfred M Landon was betting on during the 1936 election. He went with the slogan, “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide,” a pun on his last name. Funny campaign slogans like this are few and far between these days, and probably for good reason. While you have to admit the pun is pretty funny, in a dad joke kind of way, the catchy slogan didn’t work in Landon’s favor. He was smashed in the polls by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who reminded everyone about his previous success in the White House with the Democratic Party slogan “Remember Hoover.”
13. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve.” – Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson Everett Collection/Shutterstock What’s funny about this campaign slogan is the fact that it sounds like a comedy duet. You can just imagine the Cleve and Steve show playing at your local theatre and bringing the laughs. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve” was actually what Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson used to get people to vote for them to become the new president and vice president of the United States.  The slogan worked, with Cleveland winning the 1892 election and being sworn in as the top dog, with Stevenson as second in charge. 
14. “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?” – Thomas Dewey British Pathé/YouTube Running up against Franklin D Roosevelt, who was going for his third bid at re-election, New York Governor Thomas Dewey thought he had a pretty good chance at winning the election in 1944. Not learning from the mistakes of Alfred M Landon, Dewey used a pun for this slogan, “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?” Turns out the American public didn’t, with Roosevelt wiping the floor with Dewey and sending him packing. 

See more about - 14 Weird Historical Events Almost Too Bizarre To Believe

Campaigning is one of the major components that make up an election battle. Particularly in America, where prospective presidential candidates and their parties spend billions of dollars. Those wanting the top job have to sell themselves and their policies any way they can. This includes radio adverts, TV spots, billboards, pamphlets, and of course, a solid presidential slogan. A phrase or slogan that is catchy and resonates with people can be a big difference between winning and losing an election. And while there have been plenty of great catchphrases over the years, there have been just as many funny presidential slogans that have failed to get the message across as intended.  For every “Change We Can Believe In” – Barack Obama, 2008 or “Putting People First” – Bill Clinton, 1990, there’s a silly, questionable, or funny presidential slogan that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Surprisingly, some of these slogans actually worked and helped get the candidate get elected, but for the most, they are part of the reason for failed bids at claiming the White House. Read on and discover some of the funny presidential slogans and the stories behind them.  12 Funny Presidential Slogans That Didn’t Go Down Well

1. “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” – Alfred E Smith The Worsh Ahts/YouTube Yep, “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” was an actual slogan used during an election. Alfred E Smith, a New York governor who ran for the Democratic nomination in 1928 thought he could win the vote with this outlandish slogan. While it seems x-rated, there’s actually a reason behind Smith going with this phrase.  As someone who was against Prohibition, he was labeled “wet” for his love of the booze. Hoping to use this to his advantage, he and his team came up with “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True,” playing on his nickname. While that may be the case, there is no doubt Smith knew his slogan had a sexual undercurrent and was hoping to capitalize on the buzz it would bring.  Sadly for Smith, it backfired and he lost the election to Republican Herbert Hoover, whose campaign slogan was “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage.” 
2. “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts” – Lyndon B Johnson TheLBJLibrary/YouTube The 1964 presidential election was hotly contested between Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B johnson. Goldwater ran with the slogan “In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right,” a fairly innocuous slogan trying to appeal to people to vote with their hearts, which isn’t always a good thing.  Not to be outdone, Johnson came back with the hilarious slogan, “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts.” While a little crude, it worked in Johnson’s favor, with the politician winning a landslide victory. He would go on to serve one term and bring about many reforms and changes to America that are still impacting today. 
3. “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52” – Franklin Pierce Mr. Beat/YouTube After helping his friend and colleague James K Polk win the 1844 presidential election, Franklin Pierce wanted a slice of the pie for himself. Referring to Polk’s win and his own ambitions, Pierce went with the slogan “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52.”  A clever play on both their names, the phrase was a little racy for the times, but that didn’t seem to deter the American public. Pierce was elected president over General Winfield Scott and would go on to serve one term in the Oval Office. 
4. “Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” – Abraham Lincoln

“Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” sounds like something you might read in a fortune cookie, but it was the slogan President Abraham Lincoln went with during his re-election campaign in 1864. At that time America was deep in the Civil War, and while Lincoln had great support, he was worried about the outcome of the election.  The slogan he used urged voters not to abandon him halfway through the job. He wanted the American public to stick with him so they could win the Civil War, abolish slavery, and really make a difference. Lincoln was successful and managed to fulfill his promises before he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just five days after the war ended.  5. “Jeb!” – Jeb Bush Rich Koele/Shutterstock Can you get any lazier? Jeb Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush and younger brother of former President George W. Bush, threw his hat in the ring during the 2016 American elections. Backed by the Bush name and billions of dollars, the eldest Bush sibling and his team came up with the slogan “Jeb!” As you can imagine, the media had a field day with the slogan, and Bush was mercilessly roasted. Not only is the font laughable, but “Jeb!” is something you would think a five-year-old would come up with. When questioned about the use of an exclamation point for the slogan by late-night host Stephen Colbert, Bush replied, “It connotes excitement.” Unsurprisingly Bush didn’t get the nod to become the Republican candidate and ended up endorsing Ted Cruz, another failure.  6. “Ma Ma, Where’s My Pa?” –  James G Blaine wikipedia tts/YouTube Gutter politics isn’t something new. James G Blaine went down that route during the 1884 presidential election. His opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland, was believed to have fathered an illegitimate child, and wanting to cash in on this controversy, Blaine began using the funny political slogan, “Ma Man, Where’s My Pa?” Not to be outdone, Cleveland came up with a rhyme of his own, “Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine.” It all seems a little childish, but that’s politics for you. Cleveland ended up getting the last laugh, winning the election, and having one final dig at Blaine with the slogan, “Gone to the White House, ha ha ha.”  7. “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair” – William Howard Taft Everett Collection/Shutterstock Endorsed by outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft clinched the 1908 presidential election. By the time it came around to his re-election, the political landscape had changed quite a bit. Roosevelt abandoned the Republican Party and started his own, the Progressive Party (or Bull Moose Party). Then there was Taft himself, who hated campaigning and believed the public didn’t like him.  Taft “had a sense that Americans hated him,” Margaret Kaplan, an editorial assistant at Apollo Publishers who worked on Words to Win By told the History channel. “He hated being on the campaign trail, he always wanted to be golfing in his free time, he didn’t like working very much… His slogans, they make me chuckle because it’s like he doesn’t even want it.” The above statement is evident in Taft’s re-election slogan; “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair,” or, in lamens terms, “You Already Voted Me in Once so Might as Well Keep Me Here.” Taft would end up coming third with just 23% of the popular vote, beaten by runner-up Roosevelt and winner Woodrow Wilson.

See more about - All 50 American State Welcome Signs

8. “He’s Making Us Proud Again” – Gerald Ford mark reinstein/Shutterstock This is another political slogan that doesn’t sound that funny, but when put in context, will have you smirking. Gerald Ford only came to office after the Watergate scandal saw Richard Nixon resign from the top job. Looking to get re-elected off his own back, Ford ran with the slogan “He’s Making Us Proud Again.” It didn’t really gel with voters, with the slogan reminding them that Republican Ford had pardoned Nixon from all his crimes. Ford also had buttons made that read “WIN”, meaning “Whip Inflation Now,” along with one that read “A Used Ford Is Better Than a New Carter,” in reference to his opponent Jimmy Carter. The media weren’t fans of his work and neither was the public, with Carter claiming the presidency easily. The win meant Ford became the only American president to serve without actually being voted in. 
9. “Play Safe With Hoover” – Herbert Hoover theCarbonFreeze/YouTube At first glance, this might not seem overly funny, but in the context of the time, it was a laughable way to promote his campaign. Herbert Hoover had a tough first year as president, having to deal with the stock market crash and the beginnings of the Great Depression. Looking to stay in office for a second term, he ran with the slogan, “Play Safe With Hoover,” which didn’t really catch the public’s imagination. Most were still struggling through the Great Depression and didn’t see how sticking “safe” with Hoover was going to help them. It proved to be a moot point, with Hoover getting smashed at the polls by Franklin D Roosevelt, who went with the slogan, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
10. “Feel the Bern” – Bernie Sanders Senator Bernie Sanders/YouTube The unofficial slogan of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 stab at the election became one of his official phrases during the 2020 election cycle. Coined by People for Bernie organizer Winnie Wong, “Feel the Bern” became a funny campaign slogan that anchored Sanders’ tilt at the Democratic leadership in 2020.  It’s a great slogan and one that people embraced, but it wasn’t enough for Sanders to beat Joe Biden, who would eventually go on and defeat Donald Trump to become the 46th U.S. President. 
11. “Cox and Cocktails” – James Cox Unknown; from records of the U.S. Information Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons This slogan is certainly one way to get people talking about your presidential campaign. The 1920 election was contested between Republican Senator Warren G. Harding and Democratic Governor James Cox. Coincidently both were newspaper editors who hailed from Ohio, but that’s where the similarities ended.  Harding was very much in favor of Prohibition, while Cox was opposed to it. Looking to paint Cox as a booze hound, Harding ran with the slogan “Cox and Cocktails,” letting voters know they would be getting an alcoholic if they voted for Cox. It’s quite a clever quip, and combined with his other major slogan, “Return to normalcy,” Harding got the job done easily, winning a whopping 60% of the popular vote and 71% of the electoral vote. 
12. “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide” – Alfred M Landon British Pathé/YouTube Most people love a good pun, and that’s what Alfred M Landon was betting on during the 1936 election. He went with the slogan, “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide,” a pun on his last name. Funny campaign slogans like this are few and far between these days, and probably for good reason. While you have to admit the pun is pretty funny, in a dad joke kind of way, the catchy slogan didn’t work in Landon’s favor. He was smashed in the polls by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who reminded everyone about his previous success in the White House with the Democratic Party slogan “Remember Hoover.”
13. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve.” – Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson Everett Collection/Shutterstock What’s funny about this campaign slogan is the fact that it sounds like a comedy duet. You can just imagine the Cleve and Steve show playing at your local theatre and bringing the laughs. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve” was actually what Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson used to get people to vote for them to become the new president and vice president of the United States.  The slogan worked, with Cleveland winning the 1892 election and being sworn in as the top dog, with Stevenson as second in charge. 
14. “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?” – Thomas Dewey British Pathé/YouTube Running up against Franklin D Roosevelt, who was going for his third bid at re-election, New York Governor Thomas Dewey thought he had a pretty good chance at winning the election in 1944. Not learning from the mistakes of Alfred M Landon, Dewey used a pun for this slogan, “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?” Turns out the American public didn’t, with Roosevelt wiping the floor with Dewey and sending him packing. 

See more about - 14 Weird Historical Events Almost Too Bizarre To Believe

Campaigning is one of the major components that make up an election battle. Particularly in America, where prospective presidential candidates and their parties spend billions of dollars. Those wanting the top job have to sell themselves and their policies any way they can. This includes radio adverts, TV spots, billboards, pamphlets, and of course, a solid presidential slogan.

A phrase or slogan that is catchy and resonates with people can be a big difference between winning and losing an election. And while there have been plenty of great catchphrases over the years, there have been just as many funny presidential slogans that have failed to get the message across as intended. 

For every “Change We Can Believe In” – Barack Obama, 2008 or “Putting People First” – Bill Clinton, 1990, there’s a silly, questionable, or funny presidential slogan that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Surprisingly, some of these slogans actually worked and helped get the candidate get elected, but for the most, they are part of the reason for failed bids at claiming the White House. Read on and discover some of the funny presidential slogans and the stories behind them. 

12 Funny Presidential Slogans That Didn’t Go Down Well

1. “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” – Alfred E Smith

The Worsh Ahts/YouTube

Yep, “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True” was an actual slogan used during an election. Alfred E Smith, a New York governor who ran for the Democratic nomination in 1928 thought he could win the vote with this outlandish slogan. While it seems x-rated, there’s actually a reason behind Smith going with this phrase. 

As someone who was against Prohibition, he was labeled “wet” for his love of the booze. Hoping to use this to his advantage, he and his team came up with “Make Your Wet Dreams Come True,” playing on his nickname. While that may be the case, there is no doubt Smith knew his slogan had a sexual undercurrent and was hoping to capitalize on the buzz it would bring. 

Sadly for Smith, it backfired and he lost the election to Republican Herbert Hoover, whose campaign slogan was “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage.” 

2. “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts” – Lyndon B Johnson

TheLBJLibrary/YouTube

The 1964 presidential election was hotly contested between Republican Barry Goldwater and Democrat Lyndon B johnson. Goldwater ran with the slogan “In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right,” a fairly innocuous slogan trying to appeal to people to vote with their hearts, which isn’t always a good thing. 

Not to be outdone, Johnson came back with the hilarious slogan, “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts.” While a little crude, it worked in Johnson’s favor, with the politician winning a landslide victory. He would go on to serve one term and bring about many reforms and changes to America that are still impacting today. 

3. “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52” – Franklin Pierce

Mr. Beat/YouTube

After helping his friend and colleague James K Polk win the 1844 presidential election, Franklin Pierce wanted a slice of the pie for himself. Referring to Polk’s win and his own ambitions, Pierce went with the slogan “We Polked You in 44, We Shall Pierce You in 52.” 

A clever play on both their names, the phrase was a little racy for the times, but that didn’t seem to deter the American public. Pierce was elected president over General Winfield Scott and would go on to serve one term in the Oval Office. 

4. “Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” – Abraham Lincoln

“Don’t Swap Horses When Crossing Streams” sounds like something you might read in a fortune cookie, but it was the slogan President Abraham Lincoln went with during his re-election campaign in 1864. At that time America was deep in the Civil War, and while Lincoln had great support, he was worried about the outcome of the election. 

The slogan he used urged voters not to abandon him halfway through the job. He wanted the American public to stick with him so they could win the Civil War, abolish slavery, and really make a difference. Lincoln was successful and managed to fulfill his promises before he was assassinated on April 14, 1865, just five days after the war ended. 

5. “Jeb!” – Jeb Bush

Rich Koele/Shutterstock

Can you get any lazier? Jeb Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush and younger brother of former President George W. Bush, threw his hat in the ring during the 2016 American elections. Backed by the Bush name and billions of dollars, the eldest Bush sibling and his team came up with the slogan “Jeb!”

As you can imagine, the media had a field day with the slogan, and Bush was mercilessly roasted. Not only is the font laughable, but “Jeb!” is something you would think a five-year-old would come up with.

When questioned about the use of an exclamation point for the slogan by late-night host Stephen Colbert, Bush replied, “It connotes excitement.” Unsurprisingly Bush didn’t get the nod to become the Republican candidate and ended up endorsing Ted Cruz, another failure. 

6. “Ma Ma, Where’s My Pa?” –  James G Blaine

wikipedia tts/YouTube

Gutter politics isn’t something new. James G Blaine went down that route during the 1884 presidential election. His opponent, Democrat Grover Cleveland, was believed to have fathered an illegitimate child, and wanting to cash in on this controversy, Blaine began using the funny political slogan, “Ma Man, Where’s My Pa?”

Not to be outdone, Cleveland came up with a rhyme of his own, “Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine.” It all seems a little childish, but that’s politics for you. Cleveland ended up getting the last laugh, winning the election, and having one final dig at Blaine with the slogan, “Gone to the White House, ha ha ha.” 

7. “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair” – William Howard Taft

Everett Collection/Shutterstock

Endorsed by outgoing President Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft clinched the 1908 presidential election. By the time it came around to his re-election, the political landscape had changed quite a bit. Roosevelt abandoned the Republican Party and started his own, the Progressive Party (or Bull Moose Party). Then there was Taft himself, who hated campaigning and believed the public didn’t like him. 

Taft “had a sense that Americans hated him,” Margaret Kaplan, an editorial assistant at Apollo Publishers who worked on Words to Win By told the History channel. “He hated being on the campaign trail, he always wanted to be golfing in his free time, he didn’t like working very much… His slogans, they make me chuckle because it’s like he doesn’t even want it.”

The above statement is evident in Taft’s re-election slogan; “It’s Nothing but Fair To Leave Taft in the Chair,” or, in lamens terms, “You Already Voted Me in Once so Might as Well Keep Me Here.” Taft would end up coming third with just 23% of the popular vote, beaten by runner-up Roosevelt and winner Woodrow Wilson.

See more about - All 50 American State Welcome Signs

8. “He’s Making Us Proud Again” – Gerald Ford

mark reinstein/Shutterstock

This is another political slogan that doesn’t sound that funny, but when put in context, will have you smirking. Gerald Ford only came to office after the Watergate scandal saw Richard Nixon resign from the top job. Looking to get re-elected off his own back, Ford ran with the slogan “He’s Making Us Proud Again.” It didn’t really gel with voters, with the slogan reminding them that Republican Ford had pardoned Nixon from all his crimes.

See more about - All 50 American State Welcome Signs

Ford also had buttons made that read “WIN”, meaning “Whip Inflation Now,” along with one that read “A Used Ford Is Better Than a New Carter,” in reference to his opponent Jimmy Carter. The media weren’t fans of his work and neither was the public, with Carter claiming the presidency easily. The win meant Ford became the only American president to serve without actually being voted in. 

9. “Play Safe With Hoover” – Herbert Hoover

theCarbonFreeze/YouTube

At first glance, this might not seem overly funny, but in the context of the time, it was a laughable way to promote his campaign. Herbert Hoover had a tough first year as president, having to deal with the stock market crash and the beginnings of the Great Depression.

Looking to stay in office for a second term, he ran with the slogan, “Play Safe With Hoover,” which didn’t really catch the public’s imagination. Most were still struggling through the Great Depression and didn’t see how sticking “safe” with Hoover was going to help them. It proved to be a moot point, with Hoover getting smashed at the polls by Franklin D Roosevelt, who went with the slogan, “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

10. “Feel the Bern” – Bernie Sanders

Senator Bernie Sanders/YouTube

The unofficial slogan of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 stab at the election became one of his official phrases during the 2020 election cycle. Coined by People for Bernie organizer Winnie Wong, “Feel the Bern” became a funny campaign slogan that anchored Sanders’ tilt at the Democratic leadership in 2020. 

It’s a great slogan and one that people embraced, but it wasn’t enough for Sanders to beat Joe Biden, who would eventually go on and defeat Donald Trump to become the 46th U.S. President. 

11. “Cox and Cocktails” – James Cox

Unknown; from records of the U.S. Information Agency, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This slogan is certainly one way to get people talking about your presidential campaign. The 1920 election was contested between Republican Senator Warren G. Harding and Democratic Governor James Cox. Coincidently both were newspaper editors who hailed from Ohio, but that’s where the similarities ended. 

Harding was very much in favor of Prohibition, while Cox was opposed to it. Looking to paint Cox as a booze hound, Harding ran with the slogan “Cox and Cocktails,” letting voters know they would be getting an alcoholic if they voted for Cox. It’s quite a clever quip, and combined with his other major slogan, “Return to normalcy,” Harding got the job done easily, winning a whopping 60% of the popular vote and 71% of the electoral vote. 

12. “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide” – Alfred M Landon

British Pathé/YouTube

Most people love a good pun, and that’s what Alfred M Landon was betting on during the 1936 election. He went with the slogan, “Let’s Make It a Landon-Slide,” a pun on his last name. Funny campaign slogans like this are few and far between these days, and probably for good reason.

While you have to admit the pun is pretty funny, in a dad joke kind of way, the catchy slogan didn’t work in Landon’s favor. He was smashed in the polls by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who reminded everyone about his previous success in the White House with the Democratic Party slogan “Remember Hoover.”

13. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve.” – Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson

What’s funny about this campaign slogan is the fact that it sounds like a comedy duet. You can just imagine the Cleve and Steve show playing at your local theatre and bringing the laughs. “Our Choice: Cleve and Steve” was actually what Grover Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson used to get people to vote for them to become the new president and vice president of the United States. 

The slogan worked, with Cleveland winning the 1892 election and being sworn in as the top dog, with Stevenson as second in charge. 

14. “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?” – Thomas Dewey

Running up against Franklin D Roosevelt, who was going for his third bid at re-election, New York Governor Thomas Dewey thought he had a pretty good chance at winning the election in 1944. Not learning from the mistakes of Alfred M Landon, Dewey used a pun for this slogan, “Well, Dewey or Don’t We?”

Turns out the American public didn’t, with Roosevelt wiping the floor with Dewey and sending him packing. 

See more about - 14 Weird Historical Events Almost Too Bizarre To Believe

See more about - 14 Weird Historical Events Almost Too Bizarre To Believe