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

Some key documents

1986 July 13: File note by Katherine L Becker of the Tobacco Institute following an interview with Bill Trisler (BT - a Regional Director ??) re the value of "economic impact studies":

In BT's view, if Tobacco Institute sponsorship is identified, "red flags go up." Reaction is good if Institute sponsorship is not identified or if our representative has a "good relationship" with a legislator.

    BT believes the strong point of the study to be its data: Legislators are looking to the lobbyists for information. He recommends leaving out the weak section on the bill's effects on individuals. Bill would like to see a media support program which would extract and publicize key parts of these studies.

Sampling: Vernon Dempsey testified at a hearing and gave three private briefings in Michigan. BT thinks very highly of Dempsey's ability as a witness.

1986 Aug: The Regional Vice Presidents (RVPs) and Regional Directors (RDs) of the Tobacco Institute in charge of various areas have supplied comments on their Economic Witnesses and other resources.

Non-scientific witnesses
Vern Dempsey, on the sampling issue, was given high marks. He was judged to be quite effective and a "really good" witness. One RVP, however, voiced concern that Mr. Dempsey may be overused, citing the need for similar witnesses.

    Other witnesses receiving very positive comments were: Covington & Burling's Ed Beder and John Rupp; James Hargrove (National Black Police Officers Association); and Walker Merryman [later PR for the Tobacco Institute]

1987 May 5: Sam Chilcote (head of Tobacco Institute) memo to the Executive Committee re. tobacco advertising ban in Canada and the US and the Strategies and Programs that the TI have implemented to block them, He notes:

Coalitions and Expert Witnesses

• Prof Bert Neuborne, New York University Law School — a First Amendment attorney.
• Prof Philip Kurland , University of Chicago Law School — a First Amendment attorney
• Prof Roger Blackwell, Ohio State University — marketing expert
• Prof Scott Ward, Wharton School of Business — marketing expert
• Prof Jean Boddewyn, Baruch College, City Uni of New York — marketing expert
• Michael Waterson, research director, Advertising Association of Great Britain — marketing expert
• Roger Beatson, European Association of Advertising Agencies. — marketing expert
• Darwin Johnson, Peat Marwick's Policy Economic Group on the economic impact of an ad ban. (Economist writing op-ed articles — for lobbying congressmen)
• Prof Fred McChesney, University of Chicago Law School (Economist writing op-ed articles — for lobbying congressmen)
• Vernon Dempsey, Phoenix Marketing, on cigarette sampling practices.

CONTRIBUTORS:dhf2 dlo2 LR13