“I Am Not Now Nor Have I Ever Been a Member of H.U.A.C.” Pinback Button
1965.
Diameter: 2 1/4 inches
 
A striking anti-HUAC pinback button bearing the statement “I AM NOT NOW NOR HAVE I EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF H.U.A.C.” in bold blue and red lettering. The slogan cleverly parodies the language used by the House Un-American Activities Committee in questioning suspected Communists, particularly the familiar formulation associated with witnesses appearing before the committee during the early Cold War. Distributed by the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, the button reflects growing criticism of HUAC and its investigations into alleged Communist influence and political dissent.
 
The wording transforms the committee’s accusatory language into a pointed statement of resistance, turning a familiar political interrogation into an ironic declaration of independence. Produced at a time when opposition to HUAC had become an important part of the broader civil-liberties movement, the button is an especially effective example of 1960s political ephemera, using humor and visual simplicity to challenge the authority of one of the most controversial investigative bodies of the era.
 
Condition: Excellent.