Presidential M&M's facts for kids

Packs of presidential M&M's during the Obama administration

Presidential M&M's are special packs of M&M's candies. They are colored red, white, and blue. These candies are given as gifts to guests of the president of the United States. You might find them on Air Force One or at other presidential places. They first appeared in 1988. These candies replaced cigarettes as the usual gift for presidential guests. The M&M's come in small boxes. These boxes have the seal of the president of the United States and the president's signature. One of the M&M's characters holding the flag of the United States is on the other side.

The Sweet History of Presidential M&M's

From Cigarettes to Candy

For a long time, guests on Air Force One received gifts of cigarettes. Under President John F. Kennedy, guests and reporters got packs of 20 cigarettes. These boxes had the presidential seal and the president's signature. They also came with a matchbook. After President Kennedy's passing, giving out cigarettes became a tradition.

President Ronald Reagan changed this tradition. He replaced most of the cigarettes with jars of Jelly Belly jelly beans. He did this soon after becoming president. This helped show his anti-drug message.

In 1988, during a meeting in Moscow, Mars, Incorporated made special M&M's for gifts. First Lady Nancy Reagan gave these to Russian children. After this meeting, Nancy Reagan saw a chance to stop all smoking on Air Force One. She replaced the last cigarette supplies with M&M's. From then on, M&M's became the official candy of the White House.

Presidents and Their M&M's

President George H. W. Bush continued the tradition of giving M&M's. He gave them not only to guests but also to presidential employees. President Bill Clinton changed the packaging. He added the sitting president's signature right below the presidential seal.

President Barack Obama personally handed out packs of presidential M&M's. He gave them to guests. President Obama also gave them to children who were trick or treating at the White House on Halloween. He gave them along with dried fruits from First Lady Michelle Obama.

In 2014, the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, gave President Obama copies of three 500-year-old historical books. In return, President Obama gave Rajoy some presidential M&M's. Some in the Spanish press felt the gifts were not equal.

When President Donald Trump took his first flight on Air Force One, the M&M boxes did not have his signature. This was because the ones with his signature were not ready yet.

See also

• Candy Desk
• List of candies
• Parliamentary snuff box