President Roosevelt’s personally-owned electric cigar and cigarette lighter, measuring 4.75″ tall, featuring a red button activation on the side of the metal ‘salt shaker’ lighting device, a black base, and cloth-wrapped cord. Includes a letter of provenance on White House letterhead from the wife of Melvon O. Carter, who worked on the White House maintenance crew from Hoover through Nixon. During Mr. Carter’s over 40 years of White House service, he was often in close proximity to the first family and was called upon for a variety of tasks. In part: "The cigar and cigarette lighter was given to my husband by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. I do not recall when. All I recall is that the President did not think much of this contraption. He preferred to light his camel cigarettes without it…although the President did not use this much, it was his. Therefore, it should be preserved." A fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of FDR—an inveterate smoker until the end of his days.
