Scandals and Secrets: 10 Legendary Cigar Stories

1.     JFK and the Cuban Cigar Embargo (1962)

Claim: President John F. Kennedy ordered 1,200 Cuban cigars before signing the embargo that banned their importation.

Fact Check: This story is widely reported and attributed to Kennedy's press secretary, Pierre Salinger (in interviews and his memoir, P.S. A Memoir (1995)). However, some historians question its authenticity due to a lack of direct evidence. While plausible, it remains anecdotal.

2.     The Lost Cigars at Antietam (1862)

Claim: Union soldiers discovered Confederate battle plans wrapped around three cigars, leading to a crucial Union advantage in the Civil War’s bloodiest battle.

Fact Check: This event, known as the "Lost Order" or Special Order 191, is well-documented in Civil War history. The discovery significantly impacted the Battle of Antietam.

3.     Ulysses S. Grant’s Cigar Habit (1860s-1880s)

Claim: General Grant smoked up to 20 cigars a day, received 10,000 cigars as gifts after a battle, and later died of throat cancer.

Fact Check: Grant was indeed a heavy cigar smoker and received numerous cigars from admirers. He died of throat cancer in 1885. While the exact number of cigars he smoked daily varies among sources, his habit is well-documented.

4.     Bill Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky Scandal (1990s)

Claim: The Starr Report detailed how Clinton used a cigar in a sexual encounter, making cigars a permanent part of pop culture scandal.

Fact Check: This incident is thoroughly documented in the Starr Report, confirming the association between the cigar and the scandal.

5.     Mark Twain’s 300 Cigars a Month (Late 1800s)

Claim: The famous author smoked up to 15 cigars a day and once joked, "If smoking is not allowed in Heaven, I shall not go."

Fact Check: Mark Twain was an avid cigar smoker and is often quoted with this humorous remark. While the exact number of cigars he smoked daily is debated, his fondness for cigars is well-known.

6.     Al Capone’s Smuggled Cigars (1920s)

Claim: Despite Cuban cigars being legal, Capone allegedly smuggled them to avoid taxes and sell them in speakeasies during Prohibition.

Fact Check: While Cuban cigars were legal during Prohibition, smuggling them would have allowed avoidance of import taxes, increasing profits. Given Capone's extensive smuggling operations, this claim is plausible but lacks direct documentation.

7.     The Watergate Scandal and Nixon’s Cigar Breaks (1970s)

Claim: As Watergate unraveled, President Richard Nixon was often seen smoking cigars late at night in the White House, a habit he continued after resigning.

Fact Check: Nixon was known to enjoy cigars, and accounts from his aides and biographers note that he smoked them during stressful times, including the Watergate scandal.

8.     The Cigar Boom of the 1990s

Claim: Celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Jordan helped cigars regain status, leading to a massive surge in premium cigar sales in the U.S.

Fact Check: The 1990s did see a significant increase in cigar popularity, often attributed to endorsements by high-profile figures. This period is well-documented as the "Cigar Boom."

9.     Richard Nixon’s Last Cuban Cigar (1970s)

Claim: Although he upheld JFK’s Cuban embargo, President Richard Nixon maintained a personal humidor stocked with Cuban cigars during his time in the White House.

Fact Check: Nixon was known to enjoy cigars and reportedly kept a personal supply of Cuban cigars, despite the embargo. However, specific details about the contents of his humidor are anecdotal and not extensively documented.

10.  The Mafia and Cigar Lounges (1920s-1960s)

Claim: Mob bosses like Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky conducted business in cigar lounges, helping build the cigar-smoking “gangster” image seen in movies.

Fact Check: The association between mobsters and cigars is well-established in popular culture. While specific meetings in cigar lounges are less documented, the cigar as a symbol of gangster culture is widely recognized.