Cigarette Pack with Eisenhower

Q: I found a 1950s election item of unopened cigarettes with a picture of Eisenhower and the words “I Like Ike” on the front. On the back it says “Eisenhower for President.” Is it worth anything?

A: Cigarette packs for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Republican candidate, and Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic candidate, were made by the Tobacco Blending Corp. of Louisville, Ky., during the 1952 presidential campaign. The packs were displayed on store counters, and the number of packs sold for each candidate was thought to predict the outcome of the election. It was an early “straw poll.” The sales of these two packages matched the actual presidential vote count better than political commentators’ predictions. The Smithsonian Institution includes the two packs in its collection of political memorabilia. Full packs can bring $30 to $45 today.