You know who led the way on tobacco research and anti-smoking regulation? Nazis. The fucking Nazis. Richard Spencer will back me on this. No lighting up on buses or trains throughout the Fatherland, a wallet-biting cigarette tax, hardcore anti-smoking indoctrination for the Hitler Youth, government-issued warnings against cigarettes for pregnant women—the Third Reich was on point 25 years before the rest of the world began to catch on.

Meanwhile, in the United States, were we lighting up free and easy all during the war and for decades after. Almost half of the American adult population were smokers in 1965. A big Fuck You to the Jerrys? Hitler didn't smoke, we kicked Hitler's ass, so buddy can you spare a Kool? No, nothing that patriotic. It's just our God-given right as American to take our pleasure where we find it, consequences be damned. That, and the tobacco lobby was a monster. A science-and-research-crushing monster with the very best ads. Smoking was good for digestion. It was relaxing. Doctors smoked. Athletes, too. So many athletes! Frank Gifford, Hank Aaron, Jesse Owens, Joe Lewis, Sam Snead—they pitched smokes as hard as they won titles.

But where do you go after Frank Gifford? Into the lineup, just to set the scene, then back to the beach for a hammock-and-palm-tree repast, and a pack of BelAirs.

"BREATHE EASY" - 1964 BELAIR COMMERCIAL. MY MOM SMOKED THOSE!

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