Obama, who said he wants to lead by example, is our first president since Ford with a "cancer stick" addiction. He is a classic side-mouth smoker. He did chew nicorette during campaign, but recently told "Meet the Press" he's "fallen off the wagon", but still a workout fiend. And promises to keep the White House smoke free. See article excerpt below.
pictures and stories on this "nasty habit" of leading pols very hard to find nowadays. Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, an unrepentant chain smoker (Barclays) has managed to avoid getting any pic taken. Laura Bush and ex-veep Gore are said to sneak occasional cig still, but no confirmation given and certainly no pics. Clinton didn't like pics of him chomping cigars when those got released. Only the Governator from CA doesn't mind pics taken, and smoking habits discussed, of his cigars.
Obama smokes Marlboro Reds. Some folks consider it a "racist" brand as the box contains just three "ks" in it's lettering.
Laura Bush used Marlboro lights.
Hillary is the one who imposed the no smoking rule in White House.
Statue of FDR on Mall in DC is sans his famous and signature cig in long cig holder. Unfortunate, if you ask me.
......
from ABC, Sun Dec 7:
Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" program, interviewer Tom Brokaw told Obama he had ducked answering the question during an interview last month with ABC's Barbara Walters.
Noting that the White House was a no-smoking zone, Brokaw asked Obama, "Have you stopped smoking?"
"I have," Obama replied, smiling broadly. "What I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon."
"Wait a minute," Brokaw interjected, "that means you haven't stopped."