Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


1902 Teddy Roosevelt hunts a Buck

After succeeding McKinley as president, Theodore Roosevelt initiates more than 40 anti-trust actions directed at, among others, Standard Oil, DuPont, Union Pacific–and the American Tobacco Co.

Buck Duke, testifying in federal court, says every deal he ever made was intended not to destroy competition but only to “round out” his own company and to “get our fair share of the trade.” Nonetheless, in 1911, the Supreme Court rules against American Tobacco, noting, “[We] think the conclusion of wrongful purpose and illegal combination is overwhelmingly established.” American Tobacco is broken up and the constituent parts reassembled in smaller units. R.J. Reynolds emerges as the strongest competitor of the resulting companies. Duke, morose and drinking heavily now, earns the high regard of posterity by turning to philanthropy. Most notably, he endows little Trinity College (not far from his Durham, North Carolina, birthplace) with the money to become a university of national rank when the school agrees to exchange its name for his.

1913 Cigarettes in the ashtray

New Camel introduces the first blended cigarette in the U.S. Highly flavorful, the cigarette is an instant success. American Tobacco follows in 1916 with Lucky Strike, and the advertising battle begins. For the next 30 years, tobacco companies lure customers with wildly false claims of health as well as social benefits from smoking.

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate