USA

WARNING: This site deals only with the corporate corruption of science, and makes no inference about the motives or activities of individuals involved.
    There are many reasons why individuals become embroiled in corporate corruption activities - from political zealotry to over-enthusiastic activism; from gullibility to greed.
    Please read the OVERVIEW carefully, and make up your own mind.

OPINION ONLY

Baldino was a maverick board member of the Chicago, Illinois Regional Transit Authority (RTA) who successfully led the opposition to a non-smoking ban which had been introduced by the local Rock Island railway company. The tobacco industry was pleased with his efforts because they feared this could establish a precedent for commuter service smoking bans.

Shortly after his regulatory success in reversing the ban, Dan Baldino gained an executive position with the CNA Insurance Company owned by Lowes, the maker of Lorillard brand cigarettes. He then became a tobacco account executive with Leo Burnett , the advertising agency for both Lorillard and Philip Morris, and he remained as part of Leo Burnett's tobacco team for a number of years.

Baldino was involved in Republican politics in Chicago and had been a political aide before becoming associated with the tobacco industry. While at the CNA Insurance Co, he also acted as a minor political lobbyist for the tobacco industry.

He was clearly successful in the advertising business, and, after a few years at Leo Burnett, he was raised to Senior Account Executive, and put in charge of the Kellogs account promoting highly-sugared breakfast cerals.

1975: the startup fiscal year of the RTA.

1976 Oct 31: Regional Transit Authority, Annual Report

One of the two representatives of suburban Cook County on the RTA Board, Mr. Baldino, 34, previously served as assistant to State Senator William C. Harris when he was President of the Illinois State Senate. He also was director of public and legislative affairs of the Civic Federation of Chicago.

    Mr. Baldino holds masters and undergraduate degrees in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame and was assistant professor of political science at Niagara University and St. Dominic College. He resides in Evanston. Mr. Baldino's term expires June 30, 1976.

    Baldino has served as chairman of the RTA's so-called "Three B" committee which worked out the original criteria for emergency grants to carriers. He holds masters and undergraduate degrees in government and international studies from the University of Notre Dame. The Baldinos have five children.

    [snip] Because there was an RTA, at least one bus company was saved from going out of business, and the agency stood ready to assist more than 6000 commuters when the Rock Island Railroad was threatened with a shutdown of its Beverly Branch service. Fortunately, the elaborate plan to provide shuttle bus service to the Rock Island main line during track repairs was not needed.

1976 July 1: Illinois Senate records. Dealing with the Chicago Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The RTA has not passed a budget in order to put pressure on the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and the Senate wants an inquiry to look into why, and what can be done. Baldino apparently wants to "bail out" of buying a railroad which was to be added to the existing Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

" The architect of that movement or that mass-transit roulette was a member by the name of Baldino, and in my opinion Senate Resolution 423 is an attempt to shore up Mr Baldino's error,

Also June 16

1977 June: "Hyde Park Herald" article over RTA gas tax redistibution.
    Baldino has suggested a 'differential' gasoline tax to cover a projected $56 million deficit in its 1978 financial year (beginning July 1) 1% in Chicago and up to 5% in ourlying counties. He had the Suburban Republican legislators and Governor Thompson on-side [Seach for The Hyde Park Herald, Volume 95, 22 June 1977, Page 2]

Tobacco involvement.

1978 Jun 8: Tobacco Institute Report records successful campaigns against smoking bans. With reference to Chicago, it says:

Regional Transit Authority voted to establish smoking cars on the Rock Island line. All smoking had previously been banned.

1978 June 12: Larry Horist to Roger Mozingo (TI):

I am pleased to report that the ban on smoking on the [Chicago] Rock Island commuter railroad was overturned by the Board of the Regional Transit Authority.

The Chicago Transit Authority long ago prohibited smoking on its subways and elevated trains. The CTA also bans eating and the loud playing of radios

1978 June 18: Some information about the fight over the smoking ban on the Chicago RTA.

1980 Jan 29: Arthur Stevens writes to "Dear Dan" [Baldino] who is now the Manager, Public Sector Markets, of CNA, in Chicago. This is Lowes Insurance company.

    Stevens has had a telephone conversation with Dan and he writes that"

"Bernie Robinson of Philip Morris told me of his relationship with you and mentioned that he had seen you recently, and then I spoke briefly about you with Lester Pollack, who had nothing but nice things to say.

    The next time we have need to make a political judgment in Illinois relating to tobacco-related subjects it will be helpful to know that we can seek your view - and perhaps your help. Your willingness to be of assistance in that regard is sincerely appreciated.

    In the meantime, I am taking the liberty of gathering together some written materials regarding matters of current legislative interest in Illinois, and will forward them to you for your general information in the next few days.

1978 June 18: Information about the fight over the smoking ban on the RTA Board.

1978 Sep 8: British Rail announced an increase in the number of non-smoking seats — now 65% non-smoking. The tobacco industry in the USA is afraid that this is a growing trend.

1980 Jan 29: Arthur Stevens of Lorillard writes to "Dear Dan" [Baldino] who is now the Manager, Public Sector Markets, of CNA, in Chicago [This is the Lowes (Lorillard) owned Insurance company.]
    Stevens has had a telephone conversation with Dan and he writes that:

"Bernie Robinson [top inhouse executive lobbyist] of Philip Morris told me of his relationship with you and mentioned that he had seen you recently, and then I spoke briefly about you with Lester Pollack [Lowes director], who had nothing but nice things to say.

    The next time we have need to make a political judgment in Illinois relating to tobacco-related subjects it will be helpful to know that we can seek your view - and perhaps your help. Your willingness to be of assistance in that regard is sincerely appreciated.

    In the meantime, I am taking the liberty of gathering together some written materials regarding matters of current legislative interest in Illinois, and will forward them to you for your general information in the next few days.

1980 Feb 8: Michael Kerrigan of the Tobacco Institute writes to Arthur Stevens at Lorillard sending him information about legislation they would like to have changed in Illinois, adding:

For your information, Bob Hanrahan, our Midwest Area Manager, is acquainted with Mr. Baldino. As a matter of fact, one of Bob's clients when he had a consulting business was the Regional Transportation Authority, of which Mr. Baldino is a member.

1981 May 9: Baldino is writing to Liggett & Myers now on Leo Burnett letterhead from Chicago. He has now obtained a position as an advertising executive and is working on the tobacco industry accounts.

1981 May 27: "Chicago's transit woes." Baldino, still a member of the RTA, has introduced a proposal to increase fares by 12.5% to "avert a June 1 shutdown", but it was rejected by the (minority) vote of the Board.
    [See Goggle newspapers; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

1981 June 9: The RTA has been operating at a deficit, and last month it ran out of money altogether, leaving a multimillion-dollar debt to suppliers. Officials anticipated a possible shudown of the city's own mass transit system. The RTA went before the state Supreme Court to appeal a Circuit Court order that required the RTA to maintain its service through a fare increase if necessary. Taxi drivers also go on strike.
    [See Google newspapers The Argus-Press]

1991 Jun 6: Baldino is now writing to Philip Morris on Leo Burnett letterhead. He is still in Chicago and now involved in brand positioning cigarettes for Latin American markets. He is working on the "Marlboro International Account Team/"
[There are numeous pieces of correspondence with PM during 1991 on printing costs, prices, art-work, etc. and 1992 on media placement of Marlboro ads.]

1992 March 18: Correspondence between Leo Burnett and Philip Morris International. They have reshuffled their tobacco account team:

I am pleased to announce we will be welcoming a new Client Service Associate to the Marlboro International Account Team replacing Dan Baldino in his current responsibilities.

    Dan has been promoted to an Account Executive on the Kellogg Account with responsibility for several pre-sweetened cereal brands. Dan has made significant contributions to the PMI business, and we are confident that he'll continue his outstanding work on Kellogg.

2003 Nov 24: Adweek story: Account directors Bill Connell and Dan Baldino were elected senior vice presidents of Chicago-based Leo Burnett. Connell is an account director working on McDonald's for the agency's Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Baldino works on the Kellogg business, and for the past two years has been working on the account for the agency's London office.

Email: daniel.baldino@lakeinteractive.com

CONTRIBUTORS:gwf2 samf dlo2