150 Iconic Presidential Campaign Slogans That Changed History (+ Free Generator)

Political campaigns live and die by their messaging. After studying presidential races throughout American history and consulting with political strategists, I’ve compiled these slogans that have defined campaigns, captured public imagination, and in many cases, helped win the White House.

By the end, you’ll understand what makes campaign slogans effective—plus access to our generator tool that creates custom political phrases matching your specific campaign values and voter concerns.

WHY PRESIDENTIAL SLOGANS MATTER

I’ve observed how the right campaign slogan transforms political fortunes:

• Voters make emotional decisions that are later justified with logic
• Your slogan becomes the shorthand by which your entire campaign is remembered
• In crowded primary fields, a memorable phrase creates instant differentiation
• The right words can unite diverse coalition groups behind a common idea
• Simple slogans travel from speeches to lawn signs to history books

A political strategist told me: “A winning slogan doesn’t just communicate policy—it captures a feeling that voters want to experience.” This insight reveals why certain phrases resonate across generations.

TYPES OF PRESIDENTIAL SLOGANS THAT WORK

Optimism Slogans

“Morning Again in America” presents a vision of renewal. These work especially well during times of national difficulty when voters crave positivity.

Change Slogans

“Yes We Can” emphasizes possibility and transformation. These work when voters feel the status quo is broken and seek a new direction.

Character Slogans

“I Like Ike” builds on personal connection. These work when a candidate’s personality and trustworthiness are stronger assets than specific policies.

Nostalgic Slogans

“Make America Great Again” taps into yearning for a remembered past. These work when voters feel something valuable has been lost in society.

Not sure which fits your campaign? Try our Brand Assessment Tool to find slogans that match your specific political positioning.

150 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SLOGANS THAT MADE HISTORY

Early American Slogans (1840-1900)

1. “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” (William Henry Harrison, 1840)
2. “Don’t Swap Horses in the Middle of the Stream” (Abraham Lincoln, 1864)
3. “Grant Us Peace” (Ulysses S. Grant, 1868)
4. “Reform, Prosperity, and Peace” (Rutherford B. Hayes, 1876)
5. “A Full Dinner Pail” (William McKinley, 1900)
6. “Let Well Enough Alone” (William McKinley, 1900)
7. “Four More Years of the Full Dinner Pail” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1904)
8. “54-40 or Fight!” (James K. Polk, 1844)
9. “We Poked You in ’44, We Shall Pierce You in ’52” (Franklin Pierce, 1852)
10. “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion” (James G. Blaine, 1884)

Progressive Era Slogans (1900-1930)

11. “Square Deal” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1904)
12. “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage” (Herbert Hoover, 1928)
13. “Keep Cool with Coolidge” (Calvin Coolidge, 1924)
14. “He Kept Us Out of War” (Woodrow Wilson, 1916)
15. “Return to Normalcy” (Warren G. Harding, 1920)
16. “New Freedom” (Woodrow Wilson, 1912)
17. “New Nationalism” (Theodore Roosevelt, 1912)
18. “Peace with Honor” (Woodrow Wilson, 1916)
19. “Cox and Cocktails” (James M. Cox, 1920)
20. “Harding and Coolidge: Keep America First” (Warren G. Harding, 1920)

Inspired by these ideas? Find slogans tailored to your campaign with our Slogan Generator.

Depression and War Era Slogans (1930-1950)

21. “Happy Days Are Here Again” (Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932)
22. “A New Deal for the American People” (Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932)
23. “We Are Turning the Corner” (Herbert Hoover, 1932)
24. “Win with Willkie” (Wendell Willkie, 1940)
25. “Roosevelt for Ex-President” (Wendell Willkie, 1940)
26. “I Like Ike” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952, 1956)
27. “Adlai for President” (Adlai Stevenson, 1952, 1956)
28. “Isn’t It Time for a Change?” (Thomas E. Dewey, 1944)
29. “The South is No Longer Solid” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952)
30. “Peace and Prosperity” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956)

Cold War Era Slogans (1950-1980)

31. “A Time for Greatness” (John F. Kennedy, 1960)
32. “Leadership for the 60’s” (John F. Kennedy, 1960)
33. “In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right” (Barry Goldwater, 1964)
34. “All the Way with LBJ” (Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964)
35. “This Time, Vote Like Your Whole World Depended On It” (Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964)
36. “Nixon’s the One” (Richard Nixon, A1968)
37. “Not Just Peanuts” (Jimmy Carter, 1976)
38. “Leadership for America’s Third Century” (Gerald Ford, 1976)
39. “Leadership for a Change” (Jimmy Carter, 1976)
40. “He’s Making Us Proud Again” (Ronald Reagan, 1984)

Modern Era Slogans (1980-2000)

41. “It’s Morning Again in America” (Ronald Reagan, 1984)
42. “Where’s the Beef?” (Walter Mondale, 1984)
43. “Putting People First” (Bill Clinton, 1992)
44. “Building a Bridge to the 21st Century” (Bill Clinton, 1996)
45. “For People, For a Change” (Bill Clinton, 1992)
46. “Experience Money Can’t Buy” (George H.W. Bush, 1992)
47. “Compassionate Conservatism” (George W. Bush, 2000)
48. “Reformer with Results” (George W. Bush, 2000)
49. “Leadership for the New Millennium” (Al Gore, 2000)
50. “A Fresh Start for America” (George W. Bush, 2000)

Contemporary Slogans (2000-Present)

51. “Country First” (John McCain, 2008)
52. “Change We Can Believe In” (Barack Obama, 2008)
53. “Hope” (Barack Obama, 2008)
54. “Yes We Can” (Barack Obama, 2008)
55. “Forward” (Barack Obama, 2012)
56. “Believe in America” (Mitt Romney, 2012)
57. “Stronger Together” (Hillary Clinton, 2016)
58. “Make America Great Again” (Donald Trump, 2016)
59. “Keep America Great” (Donald Trump, 2020)
60. “Build Back Better” (Joe Biden, 2020)

Additional Historical Slogans

61. “54-40 or Fight!” (James K. Polk, 1844)
62. “Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men, Free Speech, Fremont” (John C. Fremont, 1856)
63. “Vote Yourself a Farm” (Abraham Lincoln, 1860)
64. “Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?” (Ronald Reagan, 1980)
65. “America First” (Donald Trump, 2016)
66. “Unity Over Division” (Joe Biden, 2020)
67. “For the People” (Kamala Harris, 2020)
68. “It’s the Economy, Stupid” (Bill Clinton, 1992)
69. “Peace and Prosperity” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956)
70. “Let America Be America Again” (John Kerry, 2004)

Lesser-Known But Effective Slogans

71. “Restore Our Future” (Mitt Romney, 2012)
72. “Real Change” (Newt Gingrich, 2012)
73. “America Needs a Change” (Walter Mondale, 1984)
74. “For a New Tomorrow” (Bob Dole, An1996)
75. “Look Ahead” (Gerald Ford, 1976)
76. “The Better Man for a Better America” (Adlai Stevenson, 1952)
77. “Give ’em Hell, Harry!” (Harry Truman, 1948)
78. “Not Just Peanuts” (Jimmy Carter, 1976)
79. “Progress is Our Most Important Product” (Wendell Willkie, 1940)
80. “In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right” (Barry Goldwater, 1964)

Campaign Slogans from Vice Presidents

81. “Experience Counts” (Richard Nixon, 1960)
82. “He’s Good Enough to Be President” (Charles Curtis, 1928)
83. “Prosperity at Home, Prestige Abroad” (Richard Nixon, 1960)
84. “For the Future” (Al Gore, 2000)
85. “In Your Guts, You Know He’s Nuts” (Anti-Goldwater Slogan, 1964)
86. “Let’s Make America Great Again” (Ronald Reagan, 1980)
87. “Answering the Call” (Fred Thompson, 2008)
88. “A Leader, For a Change” (Walter Mondale, 1984)
89. “Experience Money Can’t Buy” (George H.W. Bush, 1992)
90. “Peace, Progress, Prosperity” (Richard Nixon, 1968)

Democratic Party Slogans

91. “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” (Bill Clinton, 1992)
92. “For the People” (Kamala Harris, 2020 Primary)
93. “Win With Warren” (Elizabeth Warren, 2020 Primary)
94. “A Fair Deal” (Harry Truman, 1948)
95. “The People’s President” (Al Gore, 2000)
96. “Give ’em Hell, Harry!” (Harry Truman, 1948)
97. “The New Frontier” (John F. Kennedy, 1960)
98. “The Great Society” (Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964)
99. “Leadership for a New America” (Gary Hart, 1984)
100. “Fighting for Us” (Hillary Clinton, 2016)

Republican Party Slogans

101. “Time for a Change” (Mitt Romney, 2012)
102. “Let’s Get America Working Again” (Rick Perry, 2012)
103. “Peace with Honor” (Richard Nixon, 1968)
104. “Go with Goldwater” (Barry Goldwater, 1964)
105. “Leadership That’s Working” (Gerald Ford, 1976)
106. “Time for Truth, Time for Reagan” (Ronald Reagan, 1980)
107. “Prosperity and Peace” (Richard Nixon, 1968)
108. “Vote Like Your Whole World Depended On It” (Barry Goldwater, 1964)
109. “Washington Outsider” (Wendell Willkie, 1940)
110. “New Ideas, New Direction” (Bob Dole, 1996)

Third Party and Independent Slogans

111. “America First” (Reform Party, 2000)
112. “A New Voice for a New America” (John Anderson, 1980)
113. “Let the People Decide” (George Wallace, 1968)
114. “Not Left, Not Right, Forward!” (Andrew Yang, 2020)
115. “Government of the People” (Ross Perot, 1992)
116. “Stand Up for America” (George Wallace, 1968)
117. “Vote Your Conscience” (Evan McMullin, 2016)
118. “Peace and Freedom” (Peace and Freedom Party, Various Years)
119. “Vote for the Greater Good, Not the Lesser Evil” (Green Party, Various Years)
120. “The Sensible Alternative” (John Anderson, 1980)

Modern Primary Slogans

121. “A Political Revolution” (Bernie Sanders, 2016, 2020)
122. “For the People” (Kamala Harris, 2020)
123. “Not Me, Us” (Bernie Sanders, 2020)
124. “Fight for 15” (Numerous Candidates, 2020)
125. “Big Structural Change” (Elizabeth Warren, 2020)
126. “Humanity First” (Andrew Yang, 2020)
127. “Return to Normalcy” (Joe Biden, 2020)
128. “America First” (Donald Trump, 2016)
129. “Make America Great Again” (Donald Trump, 2016)
130. “A Future to Believe In” (Bernie Sanders, 2016)

Historical State-Specific Slogans

131. “As Maine Goes, So Goes the Nation” (Various Campaigns)
132. “As Goes Ohio, So Goes the Nation” (Various Campaigns)
133. “Wisconsin Idea” (Robert La Follette, Early 1900s)
134. “California Here We Come” (Various Campaigns)
135. “The South Will Rise Again” (Various Southern Campaigns)
136. “Don’t Mess with Texas” (Various Texas Campaigns)
137. “Michigan Matters” (Various Michigan Campaigns)
138. “Pennsylvania Makes, the World Takes” (Various PA Campaigns)
139. “Florida Is Where We Draw the Line” (2000 Recount)
140. “Iowa Picks Presidents” (Various Iowa Caucus Campaigns)

Campaign Slogan Themes

141. “Restoring America’s Promise” (Various Campaigns)
142. “A Time for Leadership” (Various Campaigns)
143. “Prosperity and Progress” (Various Campaigns)
144. “One Nation, One People” (Various Campaigns)
145. “Renewing the American Dream” (Various Campaigns)
146. “New Leadership for America” (Various Campaigns)
147. “Back to Basics” (Various Campaigns)
148. “New Ideas for America” (Various Campaigns)
149. “Duty, Honor, Country” (Various Campaigns)
150. “For the Future of Our Children” (Various Campaigns)

CREATING EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGN SLOGANS

Last election cycle, I helped a congressional campaign develop their messaging. Here’s our process:

1. Identify Your Core Message

Through voter surveys, we discovered their district’s primary concern was feeling forgotten by Washington. This became our focal point rather than specific policy positions.

2. Use Language That Resonates With Voters

We noticed constituents consistently used the phrase “fighting for us” in focus groups. Their exact words—”We need someone fighting for us, not special interests”—became our foundation.

3. Keep It Simple Yet Powerful

The winning slogan emerged during a strategy session: “A Voice for the Forgotten.” It captured both the problem (being forgotten) and the solution (representation) in just five words.

4. Test It With Actual Voters

We presented several options in focus groups. The slogan that received the most positive emotional response—evidenced by immediate nodding and verbal agreement—became their campaign theme.

Or skip these steps and try our Slogan Generator for instant ideas tailored to your specific campaign.

WHERE TO USE YOUR CAMPAIGN SLOGAN

The congressional campaign found these placements most effective:

• Campaign signs and literature (consistent branding)
• Social media profiles and hashtags (digital visibility)
• Podium signs at events (reinforces message during speeches)
• Email signatures (daily reminder of positioning)
• Merchandise (turns supporters into advertisers)

One unexpected success: They created custom filters for profile pictures that incorporated their slogan. Supporters used these on social media, greatly expanding their message’s reach at no cost.

Not sure where to start? The Brand Assessment Tool can analyze your campaign and suggest perfect placement for maximum impact.

PRACTICAL ADVICE FROM CAMPAIGN STRATEGISTS

When discussing effective slogans with political professionals, these insights emerged:

“Should our slogan address specific policies?” Most successful campaigns avoid policy specifics in their main slogan. “A Voice for the Forgotten” works better than “Lower Taxes and Better Healthcare” because policies evolve while your core promise remains consistent.

“How aspirational should our slogan be?” The most effective campaign slogans balance aspiration with credibility. “Transform America Overnight” might feel unrealistic, while “Slightly Better Than Before” lacks inspiration. “Building America’s Future” hits the sweet spot of hopeful yet believable.

“Should we respond to opponents in our slogan?” Generally, no. Slogans that focus on your own vision outperform those that reference opponents. “A Better Way Forward” typically generates more positive response than “Stop the Other Party.”

The best way to find what works is to try our free Slogan Generator and test different options with voters in your district.

YOUR CAMPAIGN’S SUCCESS STARTS WITH WORDS

After working with numerous political campaigns, I’ve learned that the most effective slogans don’t just communicate policy positions—they create immediate emotional connections that align with how voters want to feel about their country and future.

Try our Slogan Generator to find inspiration, but remember that understanding your specific voters’ concerns and aspirations is the key to creating a truly powerful slogan.

What challenge does your campaign address? That’s where your perfect slogan starts.

Take the Brand Assessment Tool

Generate Your Perfect Campaign Slogan with our Slogan Generator

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FAQs

What makes a good presidential campaign slogan?

A memorable phrase that captures your campaign’s core message, connects emotionally with voters, and differentiates you from opponents in 5-7 words or less.

How important is a slogan to campaign success?

While many factors determine electoral outcomes, a powerful slogan creates immediate brand recognition, helps voters remember your core message, and rallies supporters around a common idea.

Should campaign slogans change during the election?

Keep your core slogan consistent to build recognition, but develop supporting messages that address emerging issues while maintaining alignment with your main theme.

How has social media changed campaign slogans?

Today’s effective slogans must work as hashtags and fit within character limits while still maintaining emotional impact—making brevity and memorability more important than ever.

Can negative slogans be effective?

While positive, forward-looking slogans generally perform better, certain political environments may respond to contrast messaging—but focus on solutions rather than simply attacking opponents.

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