FDR contracted polio in 1921, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. To maintain his independence and ability to drive, his 1938 Ford was extensively customized with hand controls that enabled him to operate the throttle, brake, and clutch with a single lever. Beyond these essential adaptations, the car housed an unusual addition: a steering wheel-mounted cigarette dispenser that automatically lit and dispensed cigarettes as the driver pulled them out.
This dispenser, likely an early Masterbilt Products Corp device, worked by holding cigarettes against a heated coil within a small tray behind a flip-down door. When FDR flipped the door down, a cigarette would drop into the tray, where it was lit by the heating element. This meant FDR could retrieve a ready-to-smoke, lit cigarette without fumbling with matches or lighters—an innovation blending convenience and safety by allowing him to keep his eyes on the road.
The Safety Claim Behind the Smoke
At the time, such dispensers were even promoted as safety devices because they allowed motorists to light cigarettes without removing their hands from the wheel or their eyes from the road—a concept Congress and courts addressed in patent disputes. While the first cars equipped with seatbelts would not appear until 1949, these cigarette dispensers showcased early automotive ingenuity targeting driver convenience and focus.
In the 1930s, smoking was culturally ingrained and practically ubiquitous in cars. Ashtrays and lighters were standard, and dispensing lit cigarettes was seen as a logical luxury rather than a hazard. The dispenser in FDR’s car reflected this zeitgeist while also addressing his need for simplified controls due to his disability.
Roosevelt’s cigarette holder itself became an iconic image of the man, appearing repeatedly in photographs and political cartoons. The convenience of the cigarette dispenser in his Ford exemplifies how personal and technological adaptations went hand in hand to maintain his resilience and style in public life.
