On this day in 1970, President Nixon signed a bill limiting cigarette advertisements on TV and radio. Nixon, who was an avid pipe smoker, indulging in as many as eight bowls a day, supported the legislation at the urging of public health advocates. There had been warnings about the dangers of smoking as far back as 1939, and by the end of the 1950s, all states had laws banning the sale of cigarettes to minors. In 1964, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agreed that advertisers had a responsibility to warn the public of the health hazards of cigarette smoking.

Here’s what else happened on this day in history

Today, a majority of the Supreme Court justices voiced strong skepticism of the Defense of Marriage Act’s constitutionality. 

Indeed, DOMA may be doomed.

Cartoon of the day, Christopher Weyant, © 2013 Cagle Cartoons

Between pensions, office space and staff, postage, travel, and other benefits, the U.S. spent nearly $3.7 million in 2012 on our four living former presidents and Ronald Reagan’s widow, Nancy Reagan, according to new analysis from the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Here’s how that breaks down: 

• $1.32 million — Allowance paid to George W. Bush in 2012
• $85,000 — Bush’s telephone bill
• $46,000 — Bush’s postage and printing tab
• $395,000 — Rent for Bush’s Dallas office
• $978,000 — Allowance paid to Bill Clinton in 2012
• $442,000 — Rent for Clinton’s New York City office

More numbers

Call it the Thoughtful Gesture That Dare Not Speak Its Name, or perhaps a case of compassionate fanaticism, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in hot water for grasping hands and resting his head on the grieving mother of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez Frías at Chavez’s funeral last Friday.

“Shaking hands with a non-mahram (unrelated by family) woman, under any circumstances, whether young or old, is not allowed. Hugging or expressing emotions is improper for the dignity of the president of a country like the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

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“This a political win for Rand Paul that even he can’t have imagined when he started talking just before noon today.”

Rand Paul filibustered for nearly 13 hours yesterday about President Obama’s drone policy, and it’s being called a stroke of political genius.

On this day in 1857: In a decision that helped lead to the Civil War, the Supreme Court, in its famous “Dred Scott Decision,” ruled that neither slaves — nor their descendants — could ever become U.S. citizens. The decision is also acknowledged for the influential role it played in altering the national political landscape: It launched Abraham Lincoln’s national political career and ultimately allowed for his election.

Here’s what else happened on this day in history

On this day in 1972: In what was arguably the most dramatic trip ever taken by a president of the United States, Richard Nixon arrived in China for an eight-day visit. The announcement that Nixon, a lifelong hardline anti-communist, would visit China stunned the world. The United States and China had been foes for a quarter-century, but Nixon recognized the need for better ties — which would also help the U.S. in its Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. During his week-long visit, Nixon met with Mao and Zhou En-Lai; it is seen today as the beginning of China’s drive to modernize and enter the modern world. China’s economy is now the world’s second largest, trailing only that of the U.S itself. Nixon called it “the week that changed the world,” and the phrase “Nixon going to China” has since become a metaphor for an unexpected or uncharacteristic action by a politician.

Here’s what else happened on this day in history

On this day in 1792, President Washington created the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). One of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the Constitution, it is, today, an independent government agency responsible for providing postal service in the United States. The USPS traces its roots to 1775, when Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general. The USPS has not directly received taxpayer-dollars since the early 1980s with the minor exception of subsidies for costs associated with the disabled and overseas voters.

Here’s what else happened on this day

Tonight, President Obama will address Congress and the nation in his fourth State of the Union address, which is set to begin at 9 p.m. EST. If you won’t be in front of a television — and even if you will be — be sure to follow along via social media. Here’s how:  

• Before the speech: At 7:30 p.m., chat live with White House reporter Paul Brandus on The Week’s Facebook page. He’ll give you the lowdown on what to expect from tonight’s address.
  
  
• During the speech: On Twitter, subscribe to @TheWeek’s list of key political players, which includes both reporters and politicians who will be tweeting about the address. Separately, you’ll want to follow the hashtag #SOTU.  

More: A social media guide to the SOTU