On this day in 1971 cigarette advertisements were banned on American television and radio. President Richard Nixon signed legislation on April 1st, 1970 that would ban ads effective at the beginning of 1971. Nixon aka Tricky Dick was an avid pipe smoker, smoking up to eight bowls a day. Nixon supported the legislation at the increasing insistence of  public health advocates. 37 % of adults smoked in 1971, today it’s 21%.

The last television smoking at ran at 11:50 pm on January 1st, 1970 on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.