24 photos of presidential candidates taken at exactly the right moment

jimmy carter crying baby

Jimmy Carter was photographed with a crying baby while campaigning in 1976.
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  • Presidential candidates are photographed everywhere they get.
  • Some candidates, like Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, take been photographed taking much-needed naps during their busy campaigning schedules.
  • The Iowa State Fair has also presented plentiful opportunities for aboveboard shots of presidential hopefuls.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Presidential candidates spend months on the road meeting constituents, sharing their ideas, and posing for endless pictures. Some of these photo-ops are planned, while other times press photographers happen to capture amusing moments on the campaign trail.

As the 2020 election season comes to a shut, here are 24 photos of presidential candidates that were snapped at only the right moment.

A lensman caught Dwight Eisenhower napping during his 1952 campaign.

Dwight Eisenhower in 1952.
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The photo was taken while Eisenhower rested afterwards a two-day speaking tour of the S. He was elected in 1952 and served two terms.

Richard Nixon, and so Eisenhower'due south vice president, as well dozed off while traveling between Hawaiian islands in 1960.

Richard Nixon in 1960.
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Nixon successfully ran for president himself in 1968, only resigned in 1972 amid the Watergate scandal.

Children peeked in through a window while John F. Kennedy worked on a speech during a campaign stop in Baltimore in 1960.

John F. Kennedy in 1960.
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"Life" photographer Paul Schutzer captured the interaction. Kennedy was elected that twelvemonth, but his term tragically ended when he was assassinated in 1963.

This baby didn't seem too excited about coming together presidential hopeful Jimmy Carter.

Jimmy Carter in 1976.
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During a campaign stop in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, Carter posed with 4-calendar month-old Joseph Sumner. Democrat Carter won the 1976 election and served one term.

Ronald Reagan threw back his head and laughed at an audience member's joke during a rally in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1979.

Ronald Reagan in 1979.
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Reagan was elected in 1980 and served 2 terms.

George H.West. Bush gave a cheesy smile while campaigning during his first presidential run in 1980.

George H.Westward. Bush in 1980.
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George H.W. Bush served as vice president under Ronald Reagan for eight years before being elected president in 1988.

Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart joked around with journalists by putting a blueish pillowcase on his head while campaigning during the 1984 primaries.

Gary Hart (center) in 1984.
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Hart, who was aboard his campaign plane at the fourth dimension of this photo, lost the Democratic primary to Walter Mondale, who was then defeated by the incumbent Ronald Reagan.

Republican Pat Buchanan tried out a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in 1996 during the Republican primaries.

Pat Buchanan in 1996.
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Buchanan was on a visit to Walt Industries in Taylor, Michigan, which manufactures accessories and parts for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He ended upwardly losing the primary to Bob Dole, who and so lost to Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton.

George Westward. Bush-league got friendly with a parrot mascot at a Mexican Independence festival in Detroit in 1999.

George W. Bush-league in 1999.
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Bush won the 2000 election and served two terms in the White Business firm.

During a campaign trip along the Mississippi River in 2000, Al Gore joked effectually with his printing puddle.

Al Gore in 2000.
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Democrat Gore won the popular vote just narrowly lost the ballot when the Supreme Court halted Florida'due south recount order in the Supreme Courtroom decision Bush v. Gore. He went on to win a Nobel Peace Prize and an Academy Award for his work in the fight against climatic change.

While candidature in Iowa in 2004, Howard Dean participated in a Stella'southward Bluish Sky Diner tradition by getting a shake poured on his caput.

Howard Dean in 2004.
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Dean lost the 2004 Democratic primary to John Kerry.

John Kerry dashed past reporters in a 2004 4th of July parade in Cascade, Iowa.

John Kerry in 2004.
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Democrat Kerry lost to incumbent George West. Bush in 2004.

Back in 2008 when Joe Biden was Barack Obama'due south running mate, he was photographed with an ice cream cone in each mitt.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama in 2008.
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The pair fabricated a campaign stop at the Windmill Ice Cream Store in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

Obama made a face when he dialed a incorrect number while calling to give thanks entrada volunteers in Orlando, Florida, in 2012.

Barack Obama in 2012.
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The image was taken at the "Obama For America" field office in Oct 2012 as he campaigned for a second term in the White House. He went on to defeat challenger Mitt Romney.

Hand Romney made Wendy's cashiers in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, laugh on Election Day in 2012.

Mitt Romney in 2012.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Romney, who lost his presidential bid to Obama, ordered a Wendy's quarter-pound burger, chili, and a Frosty for the last meal on his campaign trail, the Washington Mail service reported.

Bernie Sanders gave an animated speech in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2016.

Bernie Sanders in 2016.
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Sanders lost the 2016 Democratic primary to Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump tried to agree supporters' babies while campaigning in Colorado in 2016, just they weren't having it.

Donald Trump in 2016.
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Trump met 3-calendar month-sometime Kellen Campbell from Denver, who is pictured on the right, and 6-calendar month-one-time Evelyn Keane from Castle Stone later on giving a speech at the University of Colorado.

A regular campaign cease before the Iowa caucuses, the Iowa State Off-white presents plentiful opportunities for aboveboard shots, like Cory Booker's Ferris wheel ride.

Cory Booker in 2019.
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The New Jersey senator dropped out of the race in January 2020.

Pete Buttigieg tasted a root beer float while talking to reporters.

Pete Buttigieg in 2019.
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Buttigieg, who made history as the first openly gay person to launch a presidential campaign and the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or conclave, dropped out of the primary race in March 2020.

Earlier Kamala Harris went on phase to speak at the fair, her husband, Doug Emhoff, snapped a selfie and showed off his entrada swag telephone case.

Kamala Harris in 2019.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Harris ended her presidential bid in December 2019. In August 2020, Biden named her equally his running mate.

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