Street: When did you first take up the hobby of pipe smoking?
Nick Roosevelt: Actually, the first time I smoked was in the Quad. A friend of mine brought out his pipe while I was studying with him and he asked if I would care to smoke. So, I joined him and it had a very nice, calming effect on me. The next weekend, I went down to a tobacconist downtown and picked up a pipe.
Street: Where do you smoke around campus?
NR: Mostly, I smoke on my front porch. Occasionally, I'll smoke on my way to the library when I am walking down Locust Walk or when I'm sitting on College Green.
Street: How do you feel about the smoking ban?
NR: I used to smoke cigarettes, but I don't anymore. I equate it to Hey Day in that on Hey Day people throw rotten eggs and rotten fish and really like it, but the people who walk down Locust Walk do not like getting covered in eggs, but it's kind of the same thing with the smoking ban. I understand how smokers like smoking while at a bar, but then they get a disgusting odor on everyone else in the bar. More people don't like smoke than there are people who do like smoke.
Street: Do you bring your pipe into any bars?
NR: I go to Chris's (20th and Sansom), listen to jazz, on Tuesday nights especially. It's a big smoking culture bar. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, everything.
Street: Has smoking a pipe helped you or hurt you with the ladies?
NR: It does give you an interesting musk or aroma. Some people are fans, some aren't. I guess it helps to a certain extent with image, but I really haven't seen any big results.
Street: Does anyone ever call you an old man?
NR: I get that a lot. They think I'm jumping in too soon to the old man culture, but I just really enjoy it.
Street: Any crazy stories?
NR: No, in general, I smoke my pipe by myself and read a book and maybe talk some philosophy, but in general it's not in any crazy environment. I don't go to a frat party and smoke my pipe.
Street: We hear that your great-granfather [Franklin D. Roosevelt] liked to smoke a pipe.
NR: I believe that he liked to smoke a cigarette actually. He liked to use one of those really big cigarette holders.
Street: And what about Eleanor?
NR: No, she stayed away from it. She was squeaky clean - didn't have a taste for it.
