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Page 2B • FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY October 2016 Convenient Home Delivery In The first 13 Weeks Stay close to Lake Country's most pressing issues in The Freeman Lake Country is your home... READ ALL ABOUT IT! Subscription includes FREE access to Freeman's online edition. Name ____________________________________________________________ Mailing Address____________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ____________________________________________________ Phone____________________E-mail __________________________________ * ❏ Please bill me ❏ Bill my credit card (circle one) Credit Card__________________________________Expiration Date_________ Signature ________________________________________________________ *Offer good for new subscribers only (an individual who has not been a subscriber to The FREEMAN within the last 60 days.) Delivery to Waukesha County addresses only. When sending a check, send it with this form to: The FREEMAN 801 N. Barstow P.O. Box 7 Waukesha, WI 53187 For faster service, call 262/542-2500 or visit www.gmtoday.com/wfpromo for just $33 YES! Start my subscription to The FREEMAN for the first 13 Weeks for just $33! ❏ My check payable to The FREEMAN for $33 (13 week subscription) is enclosed SC:housead RC:3M33 249176009 540 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066 414-405-2205 azuramemory.com Pewaukee's Brown buttoning down history By Karen Pilarski Freeman Staff PEWAUKEE — Joe Brown sits at a dining room table with campaign buttons from many different elec- tions and other presidential memorabilia on it. His eyes light up as he speaks of the historical significance of the items as well as his experiences. Brown's daughter, People's Park co- owner Park Susie Taylor, looks on with pride. Brown worked for presi- dential nominee campaigns from 1952 until 2000. He was a delegate during several Republican conven- tions. Although Brown down- sized his collection recent- ly, he has remained a histo- ry buff who's happy to share his knowledge and memories. The collection begins "I started going to the Republican National Con- ventions in 1952, when I worked for U.S. Sen. Bob Taft (R-Ohio)," Brown said. Taft was running for pres- ident at the time and was considered by many in the party to be the ideal candi- date until Dwight D. Eisen- hower came into the pic- ture. Brown remembered peo- ple coming up to Taft and offering him buttons from the race of his father, William Howard Taft, who was elected president in 1908. The campaign buttons were then given to Brown, which started his collec- tion. Next, he started col- lecting other historical items relating to presiden- tial campaigns — beginning at the very beginning, with President George Washing- ton. He pointed out a white saucer made in England which has the image of Washington inside it. In his hand was a copper button made for Washington's inauguration. "Many buttons read 'Long live the president,' which was similar to 'Long live the king,'" Brown said. Brown showed a book of pictures from his collec- tions. He pointed to a but- ton from one of Andrew Jackson's campaigns and described it as a rare find. Life with the presidents and candidates Brown has worked on campaigns for many presi- dents. In his opinion, the presidents he worked for were quite different after they left the podium. He recalled going out with President Richard Nixon and a small group to the Pfister Hotel in Milwau- kee. "Nixon was very friendly and signed calling cards after I told him I have friends who collect auto- graphs," Brown said. Brown was chairman of Ronald Reagan's campaign in Milwaukee. He had the opportunity to travel with him and go on stage with him. Brown and Taylor recalled a funny memory of Reagan. In 1980 the Gipper had a rally in Milwaukee. While speaking to the audi- ence before Reagan appeared, he noticed Taylor front and center. "She talked the Secret Service agents into letting her get in front of the stage," Brown said. Brown is quick to point out that behind the Oval Office and election slogans are human beings. He said many presidents came across like a next-door neighbor or a good friend. "Reagan never put anyone down and acted more like a friend than a president," Brown said. Brown and a few friends were not the only ones who liked collecting buttons. A few political figures wanted a few buttons for their own collections. Wisconsin Con- gressman William Steiger was a good friend of his. The pair would go around the conventions collecting buttons while holding paper bags. "Afterwards we would get together and exchange but- tons," Brown said. Brown showed a thick photo album of pictures, letters and memos signed by presidents. He glanced fondly at the pages and pointed at pictures of Rea- gan and other notable fig- ures. "I looked a little younger," Brown laughed. Besides candidates and other politicians recalled meeting many other famous people on the campaign trails, including such as Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr and NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw. "I could write a book about all this stuff," Brown joked. Local man collects presidential campaign buttons, memorabilia Two county schools win national Blue Ribbon awards WAUKESHA — State Superintendent Tony Evers congratulated eight public elementary schools from Wisconsin that were among 329 schools nationwide rec- ognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Among them were Muskego Elementary School in Muskego and Swallow Elementary School in Hart- land. Schools are chosen for the award based on overall aca- demic excellence or progress in closing achieve- ment gaps among subgroups of students. "Nationwide, only a few schools earn the Blue Rib- bon honor," Evers said. "Every day, these schools build a foundation for their students to graduate ready for college and careers. Con- gratulations to the teachers, students, school administra- tors and staff members, as well as the parents and com- munities that support their efforts." Seven of Wisconsin's schools were honored in the "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing" category and Muskego Elementary was recognized as an "Exem- plary High Performing School." Other schools to be award- ed include: ■ Addison Elementary School in Hartford, Slinger School District; ■ Halmstad Elementary School, Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District; ■ Marengo Valley Elemen- tary School, Ashland School District; ■ Oconto Falls Elemen- tary School, Oconto Falls Public School District; ■ Wilson Elementary School, Beaver Dam Unified School District; and ■ Woodland Elementary School, Barron Area School District. Now in its 34th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recog- nized nearly 8,500 schools. On Nov. 7 and 8, the U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize the 279 public and 50 private schools at an awards cere- mony in Washington, D.C. — Freeman Staff Photos by Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Joe Brown puts a penny in a Boss Tweed bank, depicting the leader of Tammany Hall pocket- ing bribe money. Old buttons show that political slogans can be reused. A young Joe Brown with Senator Robert Taft.

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