From: afoxland@starband.net
Date: Thu, 01/29/04
Anne LandmanPosting Date: Thursday, January 29, 2004
Background Material on the Cigarette Industry Client
Company/Source: Lorillard Tobacco Company
Document Date: 15 Dec 1953
Length: 6 pages
Bates No. 82106769/6774
URL: http://tobaccodocuments.org/landman/82106769-6774.html
PDF Version:
http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc?tid=wvc34c00&fmt=pdf&ref=results
This document from the public relations firm of Hill & Knowlton is one
of the earliest documents showing how the heads of the major American tobacco
companies come together and agreed to engage in a massive, long-term public
relations effort to confuse the public regarding information on smoking and
health. These are minutes of a now infamous 1953 meeting at the Plaza Hotel
between the presidents of the major tobacco companies and representatives of
Hill & Knowlton. The minutes state,
"The chief executive officers of all the leading tobacco companies--R.J.
Reynolds, Philip Morris, Benson & Hedges, U.S. Tobacco Company, Brown &
Williamson -- have agreed to go along with a public relations program on the
health issue.
Ligett & Myers is not participating in the organization because that
company feels that the proper procedure is to ignore the whole controversy...
...They [the heads of the American cigarette companies] feel that they
should sponsor a public relations campaign which is positive in nature and is
entirely 'pro-cigarette.' ...They are also emphatic in saying that the entire
activity is a long-term, continuing program...Each of the company president
attending emphasized the fact that they consider the program to be a long-term
one."
Quotes:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE CIGARETTE INDUSTRY CLIENT
The following information was given us by the presidents of the
leading tobacco companies at the Hotel Plaza this morning.
I. Participants
There is no trade association in the cigarette industry. this is
because the tobacco companies are prevented by the dissolution decree of 1911
and the criminal convictions under the Anti-Trust Act in 1939 from carrying on
many group activities.
As a matter a fact, before the current health crisis arose,
cigarette manufacturers never met together at any time except at dinners
honoring some industry leader
The group was called together by Mr. Paul Hahn, President of the
American Tobacco Company. The chief executive officers of all the leading
companies -- R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris, Benson & Hedges, U.S. Tobacco
Company, Brown & Williamson -- have agreed to go along with a public relations
program on the health issue.
Ligett & Myers is not participating in the organization because
that company feels that the proper procedure is to ignore the whole controversy.
[From Page 2]:
III. The Industry's Position
The industry is strongly convinced that there is no sound
scientific basis for the charges that have been made. They believe that the more
sensational accusations in the recent papers were premature and in some cases
represent publicity issued in the hopes of attracting funds and support for
further research....
...Nevertheless, they realize that the industry should not engage
merely in a defensive campaign, replying to and answering individual research
papers or magazine articles.
They feel that they should sponsor a public relations campaign
which is positive in nature and is entirely "pro-cigarettes."...
They are also emphatic in saying that the entire activity is a
long-term, continuing program, since they feel that the problem is one of
promoting cigarettes and protecting them from these and other attacks that might
be expected in the future. Each of the company presidents attending emphasized
the fact that they consider the program to be a long-term one.
[From Page 3, under "Response to Questions"]:
Do the companies consider that their own advertising and
competitive practices have been a principal factor in creating a health problem?
The companies voluntarily admitted this to be the case even before
the question was asked. They have informally talked over the problem and will
try to do something about it.
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Company: Lorillard
Author: Goss, Bert C. (Executive VP of Hill & Knowlton, c. 1953)
TI PR Committee
Recipient: Presumed recipients were meeting attendees:
Paul M. Hahn, President, American Tobacco Co.
Joseph F. Cullman, Jr., Chair and President, Benson and Hedges,
G. Parker McComas, President, Philip Morris
J. Whitney Peterson, President, U.S. Tobacco Co.
Unknown representative of Lorillard Company
Region: United States
Named Organization: American Tobacco
Benson & Hedges
BW, Brown & Williamson
Hill & Knowlton Inc. (Tobacco industry PR firm, 1953-68)
Public relations firm for the tobacco industry from
1953 through 1968.
Hotel Plaza
LM, Liggett & Myers
NCI, National Cancer Inst
PM, Philip Morris
RJR, R.J.Reynolds
Sidney J Wayne Associates
Tobacco Industry Comm
US Public Health Administration
US Tobacco
Litigation: Feda/Produced
Type: REPT, OTHER REPORT
Named Person: Hahn, Paul M. (TIRC Chairman)
Hill, John W. (President and CEO, Hill & Knowlton, c. 1953)
Ross, Thomas J. (TI PR Committee) TI PR Committee
Sonenberg, B.
Cullman, Jr. Joseph F. (Owned Benson & Hedges in 1941)
Hahn, Paul M. (TIRC Chairman)
McComas, O. Parker (PM CEO)
Peterson, J. Whitney (Chief Exec. U. S. Tobacco c. 1953)
Subject: public relations
conspiracy
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