Pooh ran for President?

pic from d23.com

With the election coming up shortly I thought it would be fun to look at a strange piece of Disney History. Back in 1968, a strange write-in occurred on several ballots. That write-in was "Winnie the Pooh". Bizarrely this was done enough to gain the attention of the Disney Company.

Pic from Wikipedia

In 1972 the "Pooh For President" campaign began. The election between George McGovern and Richard M. Nixon was underway and while this was going on at Disneyland Park in-junction with Sears, the current owner of the merchandising rights at the time, ran a three-day marketing campaign boasting "Pooh for President" inspired by the write-in that happened in 1968.

Disneyland featured banners, posters, buttons, a song written for the occasion, and a ticket-tape parade held at the Disneyland Park. While Sears had several pieces of merchandise made to sell within their stores to celebrate the campaign., the newly opened Walt Disney World wasn't excluded from this event either.

Across the way at Walt Disney World things were set up as a second rally location for the friendly and loveable bear now attempting to "bear" the weight of presidential status at least in the Court of Cinderella's Castle. Many of the festivities being held at Disneyland were used at Disney World including the Main Street USA marching band playing themes from "The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh" while Pooh himself would give his small 30-second speech, voiced by Sterling Holloway, stating his campaign strategy consisting of removing the "high" price of ice cream cones and "Hunny in every pot".

Pic from Wikipedia

In 1976 the campaign made a return at both theme parks listing Pooh Bear as the "children's choice". Much like the last time the campaign ran for three days at the theme parks, but with even more marketing items to be sold at Sears, including a record containing dialogue and songs stating "Pooh for President!"

Sadly I doubt something like this could happen in this day and age, but it's a crazy and fun piece of Disney History that poses a question in my mind…. What if the Silly Ol' Bear had become president?