What slogan did McDonald's launch in 1971 with its nationwide advertising campaign?

McDonald's launched the slogan “You Deserve a Break Today” in 1971 as a nationwide advertising campaign.

The line presented McDonald's as a convenient pause in a busy day, linking the restaurant with relaxation and an affordable treat. Its jingle became one of the most memorable pieces of American fast-food advertising.

The campaign followed earlier McDonald's messages, including “Look for the Golden Arches,” but it shifted attention from finding a restaurant to the customer’s emotional reason for visiting. The slogan remained closely associated with the brand for years.

It is sometimes confused with “I’m Lovin’ It,” the slogan introduced globally in 2003. Those campaigns belong to different periods and used different musical and visual identities.