Video–President Kennedy Buys Cuban Cigars Before Signing the Cuban Embargo Decree

On February 7th, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed the decree ordering the Cuban Embargo. As we all know and live, our legal access to Cuban cigars ended. But, did you know that President Kennedy obtained over a thousand of his favorite Cuban cigars prior to signing the embargo order?

A few days prior to signing the Cuban Embargo decree, President Kennedy summoned his Press Secretary Pierre Salinger into the Oval Office. He told Salinger to buy 1,000 of his favorite Cuban cigars as quickly as possible. Salinger returned the next day with 1,200 of the prized cigars. President Kennedy thanked Salinger, opened his desk drawer, and signed the decree ending our access to Cuban cigars for over 50 years.

I’ve told this story many times and each time, I get a suspicious look from the listener as they mentally check Snopes. The story is true and here it is in Salinger’s own words.