Alaska political button & bottle cap, USS Ernest Gruening, 1968. 2 items in lot.

Description

1968 campaign pin-back button and bottle cap from US Senator Ernest Gruening's last run for the US Senate in 1968. The pin-back button is celluloid, 1.5" and the bottle cap is plastic nearly 1.5" (36mm). Unused, excellent condition. Plastic display stands are not included with these items.
Ernest Gruening was a good friend of President Franklin Roosevelt and was appointed to the governorship of Alaska by Roosevelt. Just before statehood he was elected as a non-voting representative to Congress. When Alaska became a state he was then elected to the US Senate. He and Senator Mansfield  were the only two Senators who voted against President Johnson's Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which fully committed the United States to the ongoing war in Vietnam. This lead to his defeat for re-election in 1968 by Mike Gravel. Gruening is also known as the Father of Alaskan Statehood, having tirelessly fought for admission to the union.
Rarely on the market, this is an excellent chance to get this set. Note: over twenty years ago Al Anderson's Auction realized a price of fifty dollars on the pin-back alone. I am an original source and can therefore offer these at a very low beginning bid. These items are from the former Gruening headquarters in Nome, Alaska.