Cigar Smoking Presidents of the United States

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, neither major candidates are known to be cigar smokers. However, many past American presidents did enjoy puffing on handmade cigars from the United States, Cuba before the embargo, and New World cigars. We have identified 24 such presidents, meaning that more than half of the U.S. presidents smoked cigars.

John Adams – President #2 (1797-1801)

Back when John Adams was president, there were no ashtrays in the White House, so he was known to throw his cigar butts simply on the floor of the Oval Office.

James Madison – President #4 (1809-1817)

Madison not only smoked cigars until his death at age 85, but he also grew tobacco in Virginia.

Andrew Jackson – President #7 (1829-1837)

President number seven, Andrew Jackson, was possibly among the first to ‘pair’ cigars with coffee, having reportedly told his doctor those were the only two things he could not do without. Even Jackson’s wife, Rachel, was known to enjoy a cigar on the veranda of their Nashville home.

John Tyler – President #10 (1841-1845)

Tyler smoked cigars for many years, as vice president and later in his one and only term as President of the United States.

Zachary Taylor – President #12 (1849-1850, died while in office)

Taylor wasn’t a staunch smoker, but he would light up cigars when in the presence of companions who smoked cigars. At home, he did not smoke as his wife always got ill from smoke.

Millard Fillmore – President #13 (1850-1853)

Fillmore was vice president for Zachary Taylor and came into office after Taylor passed away. The halls of the White House smelled the delicious aroma of cigars again.

Franklin Pierce – President #14 (1853-1857)

Not much is known about the cigar habits of this one-term president, but records show that he enjoyed the taste and aroma of a cigar.

James Buchanan – President #15 (1857-1861)

Just like his predecessor, Franklin Pierce, it is known that Buchanan liked to smoke cigars, even though there isn’t much documentation on his smoking behavior left.

Andrew Johnson – President #17 (1865-1869)

Another cigar-smoking president whose love for cigars is confirmed, but what he smoked, how often he smoked, and more details are hidden behind a (cigar) smoke screen.

Ulysses S. Grant – President #18 (1869-1877)

Grant smoked up to 20 cigars a day, smoking more and more as the Civil War progressed. He had been written about smoking a cigar during battle, which resulted in people sending him ‘the choicest brands.’ Grant had more than he could smoke himself and gave away many cigars.

When he became president, Grant would leave the White House at the end of the workday and take the short walk to the Willard Hotel, relaxing in the lobby smoking one or two cigars. Since it was difficult for people who had business with the government to get an audience with the president at the Oval Office, they would wait in the hotel in hopes of getting a few words with Grant. Grant reportedly called them ‘lobbyists.’

Rutherford B. Hayes – President #19 (1877-1881)

Hayes didn’t smoke as much as his predecessor, but he did smoke and liked cigars; that much is known.

Chester Arthur – President #21 (1881-1885)

Arthur was a wealthy New York lawyer, politician, and close ally of Grant. He found his way into the Oval Office by way of the assassination of his predecessor, James Garfield, and went on to lead a respectable and moderately successful term. In his spare time, it’s been said he had a penchant for throwing lavish midnight dinners and consummated these meals with expensive imported cigars and champagne.

Benjamin Harrison – President #23 (1889-1893)

Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, had the good fortune to have cigars sent to him by a hometown tobacconist in Indianapolis.

William McKinley – President #25 (1897-1901)

William McKinley, number 25, would not smoke in public or allow his picture to be taken while smoking, but presidential historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony has written that the White House’s chief usher recalled that, “McKinley had a passion for cigars and was perhaps the most intense smoker of all the presidents during my life. One never saw him without a cigar in his mouth except at meals or when asleep.” McKinley was assassinated in 1901, the first year of his second term.

Theodore Roosevelt – President #26 (1901-1909)

As a child, Roosevelt was diagnosed with asthma. Doctors recommended the young boy drink coffee and smoke cigars to combat his chronic ailment. While it may not have been the best idea, Teddy kept the cigar-smoking habit into adulthood and was reported to have smoked at least one Cuban cigar a day.

William Howard Taft – President #27 (1909-1913)

The robust and rotund 27th president, William Howard Taft, didn’t mind being seen with a cigar.

Warren G. Harding – President #29 (1921-1923)

While Harding was careful not to be seen in public with his beloved cigars, this president was all over them in his spare time. Harding’s former Ohio home, now a museum, still contains his massive humidor (a gift from the Cuban people) and desk complete with cigar burns.

Calvin Coolidge – President #30 (1923-1929)

Coolidge perfected the art of politicking with cigars. He often smoked three cigars a day. Aside from smoking them, Coolidge used cigars as props—excitedly talking through them or angrily biting into them while working with members of Congress. While holding breakfast meetings, Congressmen in attendance would be given a cigar, and one was smoked whether they wanted to or not.

Herbert Hoover – President #31 (1929-1933)

Hoover was an avid cigar smoker who was reputed to have smoked up to 20 cigars a day. “Hoover smoked strong cigars all the time,” reported the White House usher.

Dwight D. Eisenhower – President #34 (1953-1961)

President Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th president, would enjoy a cigar and a drink after White House parties.

John F. Kennedy – President #35 (1961-1963)

Kennedy was a lover of cigars, openly. The story that he had his press secretary secure him 1,500 H. Upmann Petit Corona cigars on the night before he signed the Cuban embargo is legendary.

Richard Nixon – President #37 (1969-1974)

The last time cigar smoking was looked upon favorably in the White House, at least openly, was during the Nixon administration. While President Richard Nixon, number 37, did not regularly smoke, he would light up a cigar with guests after official dinners. This was the last time cigars were offered during such events at the White House.

Bill Clinton – President #42 (1993-2001)

Clinton was the last president to smoke cigars openly. His cigar smoking became infamous during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

George W. Bush – President #43 (2001-2009)

Even though George W. Bush tried to keep his love for cigars a secret, it was publicly known in the cigar community that Bush was one of ours. Whether you agreed with his political views or not, just because he smokes cigars, he is part of the community, right?