The Curious Case of JFK, his 1,200 (or 1,600) H. Upmann cigars and an impending embargo
The following morning, February 3, 1962, President Kennedy called him into his office, eager to find out if Salinger had succeeded in his mission. He had.
Historically, cigars and leaders of the world and industry have gone hand in hand. From Winston Churchill, who is said to have smoked from eight to ten cigars a day and has a cigar size named after him, to George S. Patton, who traveled with a humidor full of Habanos; passing through Mark Twain, who supposedly once declared, “If smoking is not allowed in heaven, I shall not go.”; Alfred Hitchcock, whose pictures of him with a cigar are as iconic as his films, and the epitome of the “victory cigar”, Boston Celtic legend, Red Auerbach. Nevertheless, only one can be said to have altered the way millions of individuals consume Cuban cigars with just a swipe of his mighty pen. This is the story of the 35th president of the United States, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and how he did just that… but not before securing his stash.
During my Trade Law class earlier this year, we talked about embargos, and I happened to mention a curious story I remember reading or hearing about. I was not entirely sure if it was true or merely an urban legend amongst International trade professionals passed from one cohort to another. But, after doing some research (which I should have done before my class), it turned out it was true!
If you have not heard about how President Kennedy secured around 1,200 (or 1,600, depending on who is telling the story) Cuban cigars just moments before signing a decree banning the importation of all Cuban products to the United States, please read on.
The story is confirmed by the late Pierre Salinger, who served as press secretary to President John F. Kennedy. You can find the story directly from his pen in what is probably the premier destination guide for enjoying the good life and the world of cigars (https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/great-moments-kennedy-cuba-and-cigars-7840).
The story goes something like this.
It was February 3, 1962, the day before President Kennedy signed the aforementioned Proclamation. As someone in President’s Kennedy position would do, he called Pierre, hoping he would assist him in procuring 1,000 Upmann Petit Coronas. Indeed, a modest amount if you consider that a few days later, it would become practically impossible to get your hands on these, or any other Habanos for that matter.
H. Upmann began as a side hobby for an ambitious German banker, but soon, it became a lifelong passion and an enduring legacy. Its flagship product, the Petit Corona, was in production long before the nationalization of the Cuban cigar industry in 1960. These cigars provide a smooth smoking experience with a complex yet mild flavor profile. These characteristics have made these an ideal entry point into the world of high-end Cuban cigars, which is why they have developed an almost cult-like following. But I digress.
Pierre responded to the President’s call and was able to secure somewhere between 1,200 and 1,600 Habanos, varying as per different accounts. This was an easy task, as Pierre was a passionate smoker with the right connections. However, I wonder if his procuring these cigars raised any eyebrows before or even after the embargo.
The following morning, February 3, 1962, President Kennedy called him into his office, eager to find out if Salinger had succeeded in his mission. He had. Pierre informed him that not only was he able to acquire 1,000 Petit Coronas, but he went above and beyond the assignment, tallying around 600 more than those requested.
President Kennedy was thrilled. Or at least, I imagine he was. Minutes later, he signed Proclamation 3447 (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-3447-embargo-all-trade-with-cuba ), which became effective at 12:01 A.M., Eastern Standard Time on February 7, 1962. This meant that the importation into the United States of all goods of Cuban origin and those imported from or through Cuba was prohibited. That means everything, not just cigars. With this, Cuban cigars on American soil were suddenly in short supply, but luckily, President Kennedy had a head start in procuring some.
Some of these measures have remained in place in some form up to this day. As per the latest rules (which may have changed by the time you read this), limitations to importing Cuban cigars into the United States remain in place (see: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-82?language=en_US).
It is uncertain how long these 1,600 cigars lasted, but this would have been able to set President Kennedy for quite a while. Unfortunately, President Kennedy would be assassinated thirteen months later. During those months, we can be confident that President Kennedy destroyed those cigars one by one and took pleasure in doing so.
It is fun to imagine JFK sitting behind his desk in the Oval Office with an H. Upmann Petit Corona in one hand and a pen (likely a fountain pen) in his other hand as he signed the Proclamation. You can’t fault Kennedy for thinking ahead as this is a cherished quality in all great leaders.
Next time I discuss embargos in class, I will mention more details about this story. I recall that it generated a great deal of curiosity amongst the students.
About the Author:
Rodolfo C. Rivas is a qualified lawyer from Mexico, he holds several university qualifications including an LLM in Law and Information Technology from Stanford Law School and an MBA from University of London. He currently serves as Chief of Staff WTO Affairs and Switzerland’s Regional Director @ the Chief of Staff Association. He has extensive experience in international law, arbitration and international affairs. He designed and launched the Trade Lecture Sessions @ the WTO, is an author with over 13.6K downloads across various platforms, a Panelist for domain name disputes and a creator and host of the podcast The Rodolfo Rivas Project.
