Bobblehead Reagan? Milwaukee museum unveils new set

If you want a bobblehead of Dixon’s favorite son Ronald Reagan, just nod.

That, and have a credit card handy to place an online order.

On Monday — Presidents Day, fittingly enough — the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, unveiled what it is calling the first complete series of bobbleheads featuring all the United States presidents.

Appreciating bobbleheads, of course, is an acquired taste. But should they appeal to you, then know that the set including Ronald Reagan will be available for sale in May.

But there an introductory price of $30 per figure on advance orders. Follow the links at https://www.bobbleheadhall.com/ to learn more.

Each presidential bobblehead comes with their name on the base, their term in office on the back.

If you’re inclined to get all the presidents with Illinois ties, there, are of course an Abraham Lincoln, an Ulysses S. Grant, and a Barack Obama.

The full set of presidents goes for $1,250 — plus shipping fees. At 45 figures, that’s more than enough to keep anyone busy tapping their heads to get them bobbing simultaneously.

According to the museum, nodding dolls go back to the 1760s — about the time of the founding of the nation. But modern caricature bobbleheads first appeared in the 1960.

Based on that, modern presidents live in happier times. That must be why all presidential sculpts since Gerald Ford are shown waving and smiling.

Some other observations about the line:

You’d think that Lincoln would be wearing his signature stovetop hat, but no. Only one president is shown with a hat, and that’s Theodore Roosevelt. Bully for him.

Teddy’s the only one from the Gilded Age shown waving — the others of his era appear rather dour, with hands clasped or at their sides. Teddy also is the only president with eyewear – a monocle.

All the pre-Civil War presidents from William Henry Harrison to James Burchanan are posed with a hand on their hip. Lincoln, like many of his compatriots in the latter half of the 19th century, are posed with arms stiffly by their sides. Yet, Lincoln, Andrew Johnson and Grant are sporting nifty bow ties.

A lot of the presidents wear black suit coats, of course. Notably in the modern era, John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush are in gray while Donald Trump and Joe Biden are in blue.

Party affiliation is another element of the collection. Starting with Hoover, Republican presidents have red neckties and Democrats wear blue ones.

The National Bobblehead Museum produces customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as for organizations, teams, and individuals across the country.

There are other makers of big-headed presidential plastic toys and collectibles in the marketplace, of course.

Notably, Royal Bobbles has a line of presidents, including Reagan and Lincoln. And Funko Pop! has a Reagan flashing a thumbs up.