For the political junkie

You've probably heard that you should never discuss religion or politics, and that certainly is good advice for new and casual acquaintances. But having been a political science and religion double major in college, I've often found it difficult to completely avoid these topics that occupy so much of my time. For today, I'm ignoring the rules and talking politics 100%. If you know someone like me, who keeps up with politics like its her job or watches C-SPAN for fun, this post is for you. Everyone knows there are plenty of humorous and parody political products on the market, but what about a more serious gift for a serious political junkie? 

When buying for a political buff, be wary of anything too partisan. Even if you know where your recipient stands on the political spectrum, you can't go wrong with a non-partisan gift. Your ultra-liberal recipient might love a parody doll of Dubya, but his wife might find it offensive and his kids might learn that the Presidency is only good for a laugh. However, if you are beyond certain that your recipient will appreciate a partisan gift (and your relationship is close enough to make such a gift appropriate), be sure to use discretion if you choose a politically charged present. When in doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry, and this goes double for politics!

In honor of President's Day, here are some ideas for the political junkies in your life:

The West Wing: The West Wing is TV at its finest and a must-have for any political junkie. Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, and Bradley Whitford are just a few of the great actors in the series, which takes place over the course of a two-term presidency. I recommend springing for the complete series (which comes in a super cool dossier), but if you have to pick a single season, you can't beat the first one.

The West Wing: The Complete Series Collection (DVD) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Presidential Memoirs and Biographies: As I've said before, regardless of political persuasion, presidential memoirs are a rare and unique look into one of the world's most exclusive, demanding, and private jobs. Even hatred for a particular president can't overshadow the opportunity to delve into the mind of the world's most powerful person. Most presidents have memoirs, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Biographies are another great source of inside information about presidents, and although they may include fewer personal anecdotes, they have the benefit of being told by an outside source who can provide some perspective and criticism. Don't just stick to the US - most world leaders have memoirs and biographies that give this same insight, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Golda Meir, Charles de Gaulle, and Tony Blair. Whether your political junkie prefers life overviews, war accounts, or leadership guides, you can find plenty of books to satisfy her curiosity.

Miniature Figures: If your political junkie enjoys displaying his love of politics at home or in the office, a replica doll might be just the thing. You can find stationary versions, bobble heads, and parodies, but my favorites come from Jailbreak Toys. They offer Barack and Michelle Obama, Mahatma Gandhi, Che Guevara, and Mao Zedong individually, along with a revolutionaries collection with Che, Mao, Gandhi, and Malcolm X (the old version also included Lenin). They also offer various other historical figures and collections of writers, artists, and scientists.

Little Giants Revolutionaries (L to R: Gandhi, Che, Malcolm X, Mao) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Political Books: There is certainly no shortage of political literature, and new books are published weekly, meaning that you have a constant flow of gift possibilities for a politico who enjoys reading. For the latest books, just check the NY Times bestseller list or the displays at your local bookstore. However, there is a good chance that your recipient doesn't have every older political text, so here are a few suggestions if you want to avoid the latest (and likely quite partisan) books. My number one recommendation to anyone remotely interested in politics is Thomas Goldstein's The Lexus and the Olive Tree, which provides a comprehensive look at globalization and how the world came to face our current political issues. Every political junkie should own classics like Plato's Republic and Rousseau's The Social Contract. If you want some humor mixed in, look at Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!) and Jon Stewart's Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race, or pick up a book of political cartoons like The New Yorker Book of Political Cartoons or American Political Cartoons, 1754-2010. For Supreme Court fans, you can't beat The Nine, The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, or any book written by a former justice (I am partial to O'Connor's The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice). For a more global perspective, consider Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century or The Post-American World. And for a general overview of American politics, choose Politics in America or The Almanac of American Politics.

Vintage Paraphernalia: If your political junkie appreciates historical items, consider giving a vintage political gift like a pin, poster, signature, or flown flag. The place to start is definitely Legacy Americana, which specializes in American historical and political memorabilia, including one of a kind and limited edition items like this Order of the Procession given to mourners at Lincoln's private funeral (one of only a few remaining copies and the only one on the market in recent times) and March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom button from the 1963 rally (just like the one worn by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he gave his "I Have a Dream" speech). Next, visit USA.gov, which links to many different agency gift shops and offers items like flags flown over the US Capitol (which are also available here, with flown state flags offered on various sites). You may also have some luck finding memorabilia on Ebay and Etsy or through a quick Internet search.

Sandra Day O'Connor Autograph (dated 12/18/1994) (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Subscription to a Political Publication: The one thing a political junkie needs to feed her addiction is political news. Don't be afraid to be an enabler - a subscription to a political journal or magazine like the Harvard Political Review or Newsweek makes a great gift. If your recipient prefers to get her fix in electronic form, go for an online source such as The New York Times or The Cook Political Report.

Games: Although political junkies are often thought to be stuffy and uptight, I can assure you that they will enjoy these games featuring a political element. For casual games to play among a gathering of friends, Loaded Questions: Political Party and Politico are great choices. For more prolonged and individual games, let your recipient run her own political campaign with computer games like President Forever and The Political Machine. President Forever lets the user run presidential and congressional campaigns, with add-ons available for state races and foreign elections too (available in UK, German, Canadian, and Australian 

versions, with a 2012 US election version expected soon). The Political Machine is similar, but with fewer candidate options and more political speech opportunities.

Intellectual Devotional: The Intellectual Devotional series provides a bite-sized dose of education on a different subject each day of the week. For the political fan, pick up the American History (book or audio) or Biographies (book only) edition. Also available in original (various topics), modern culture, and health editions.

The Intellectual Devotional: American History (photo courtesy of Amazon)

Great Speeches: Political milestones often come in the form of great speeches from political leaders, but unfortunately, most political gurus didn't get to witness these orators for themselves. Give him the next best thing with a collection of history's great speeches. You can find lots of speech collections, but the most comprehensive for recent years is the Great Speeches of the 20th Century series (CD), available in Vol. 1 (Presidential Addresses), Vol. 2 (The New Frontier), and Vol. 3 (Dreams and Realities). Also check out Great Speeches of 20th Century, Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History, The World's Great Speeches (4th Ed.), The Greatest Speeches of All-Time Box Set (DVD), and Great Speeches of our Time (book). If you want to stick with a single orator, you can find collections of speeches by Churchill, Ronald Reagan (Vol. I and Vol. II), and Lincoln, among others.

Picture or Print: Pictures and prints of political institutions or events make a great memento for political buffs. You can find plenty of great photos of Washington landmarks (both in their current and historical forms) like the White House, the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the monuments (online gift shops are a great place to find these kinds of prints). Pictures of historical spots like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell also make inspirational gifts. I also love Aaron Foster's Fifty States One Union print, which features state license plates in the shape of that state (you can get an authentic version here if you have $4500 to spare) There are lots of great prints like copies of historical documents (link: US Constitution) and enlarged political cartoons, but my favorites come from the Visual History series. These prints from Timeplots give a visual history of various American political institutions, including the American Presidency, the Senate, the Supreme Court, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. They would look great on a wall and provide your politico with a new source of knowledge about her favorite US government branch.

A Visual History of the United States Supreme Court (photo courtesy of Amazon)

What are your favorite political gifts?