Tobacco Bad Kids

John Adams, Americas 2nd President started smoking intermittently at age 8, and continued until at least age 70. When Adams was 70 years old, his physician, Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, tried to get Adams to quit, sending him a copy of a lecture entitled "Caution to a Young Person. Showing the Evil Tendency of the Use of Tobacco." Adams read it, apparently enjoyed it, and confessed that he regretted his practice.

Andrew Jackson, Americas 7th President suffered headaches from tobacco use. Jackson most probably died of heart failure. He started experiencing near suffocating shortness of breath toward the beginning of 1845. Early in April, his feet and legs swelled, then his hands and abdomen. He had been unable to lie flat for several months, and required propping-up with pillows in both his bed at night, and his chair during the day.

Ulysses S. Grant, Americas 18th President loved to smoke cigars. During the first Battle of the Wilderness, Grant was seen to smoke 20 cigars from sunup to sundown. Grant eventually developed throat cancer. Ulysses died from his cancer in 1885. It was with Grant's cancer that Americans began to fear this disease.

Chester Arthur, Americas 21st President smoked. During his presidency the Surgeon General diagnosed him with a kidney affliction known as Bright's disease. Arthur's steadily worsening physical problems also involved his heart. Arthur died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 18, 1886

Benjamin Harrison, Americas 23rd President smoked cigars. Harrison began smoking cigars in 1847. His parents urged him to quit but he did not succeed. Seeing Harrison with a cigar in his hand was not uncommon and was captured on film. 1901 Harrison developed a cold. By two days later he had a severe chill, high fever, and generalized aches and pains, shortness of breath, and a rapid pulse. Pneumonia was diagnosed. Harrison died in the arms of his wife.

Grover Cleveland, Americas 22nd President smoked cigars. Cleveland noticed a "rough place" on the roof of his mouth. It was diagnosed as cancer. He suffered with pain in the left side of the roof of his mouth and had to undergo a jaw operation. He also developed gout and was seen limping on his right foot at the funeral of Ulysses Grant. Cleveland's gout plagued him the rest of his life.

Warren Harding, Americas 28th President used tobacco in all forms. Cigars, pipe, cigarette and chew tobacco. His Physician began to suspect that Harding had some sort of heart ailment because Harding had significant symptoms related to heart disease. Harding was more easily exhausted and had transient chest pains. Harding often had abdominal complaints during the later stages of his cardiac disease. In 1923 Harding died of heart attack.

Dwight Eisenhower, Americas 33rd President smoked four packs of cigarettes a day. His brother had developed throat cancer and prompted him to quit. After that day he never smoked another cigarette again. Eisenhower was asked how he did it; he replied that it was simple; he put smoking out of his mind. He would add with a grin toward those weaklings who did not have the will power to break their enslavement.

Richard Nixon,Americas 36th President's wife was a long time smoker. The former First Lady battled mouth cancer, emphysema and respiratory problems. In 1992 she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Nixon died the day after her 53rd wedding anniversary in 1993. Former Presidents Reagan and Ford attended the funeral.

Ronald Reagan, Americas 39th President was a smoker.

Reagan quit smoking, supposedly after his brother developed cancer of the voice box.