Tobacco Documents Online

Re: Message From Jim Lindheim, David Nicoli and Scott Williams

Abstract

This internal Philip Morris (PM) memo written by Greg Little (Associate General Counsel for PM) on 30 January 2000 indicates a strong and successful effort by PM to exert political influence over the course of the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against the American tobacco companies. Little credits PM's DOJ Team [Department of Justice Team] with silencing the White House on the suit, reducing federal funding for the suit, neutralizing political pressure around the suit and creating a beneficial atmosphere for the company during litigation.

The federal court ultimately found the tobacco companies guilty of racketeering, although the remedies imposed by the court were quite limited.

The entire text of Little's memo is below.

Fields

Notes

Thanks to Suzette Janoff, who came upon this document while searching under the criteria "Jim Lindheim."

Quotes

I would like to take this opportunity to thank this group for doing such a great job. It was a privilege to work with you. When you look back to last year's State of the Union Address, I think most people assumed that the DOJ suit would turn into a constant barrage of attacks by the White House, joined by the Anti's and supported by a well-funded Justice Department suit. Instead, since the formation of the PM DOJ Team, Congress refused to fund the suit, the White House has been noticeably silent, and the Anti's have had to turn their attention efsewhere. You should consider it a tremendous accomplishment that, since the filing of the suit, the only comment from DOJ has been "we will do our talking in court." I suspect that view has little to do with professionalism, and everything to do with recognizing that this suit is not politically popular. You deserve great credit for creating that atmosphere and we in litigation greatly appreciate it. Now that you have neutralized the political pressure we will do our very best to have this suit dismissed on legal grounds. If we succeed, it will be due in large part to your efforts. Thank you.

Company

Philip Morris

Author

Little, G.

Recipient

Duchesne, S.R.

Han, Victor (PM Worldwide Reg. Affairs, Dir. of Communcations c. 1993)

Director of Communcations for Philip Morris Worldwide Regulatory Affairs office circa 1993-95. Directed strategy and implementation of internal and external communications. Also worked for PM Corporate Affairs. Vigorously defends company's sale of tobacco products but refuses to smoke around his two young daughters saying "Certainly I don't want my kids to smoke. As a parent I want to take as many risks out of their lives as I possibly can." (Washington Post National Weekly Edition, January 13, 1997, pg. 9)

Harris, P.L.

Kilhenny, V.

Laufer, David (PM Regional Dir. of Gov't Affairs '93-94,)

Philip Morris 1993-94- Regional Director, Government Affairs 1995-96 - Communications Director 1997-99 (current?) Vice President, State Government Affairs

Lenzi, John (Jack) (Mgr., PM Corp. Communications, Reg. Dir., PM Gov't Affairs 1)

Manager, Philip Morris Corporate Communications, PM Worldwide Regulatory Affairs, (1995)

Lindheim, James B. (Executive VP and Dir. of Public Affairs of Burson Marstellar)

James B. Lindheim worked for Burson Marstellar public relations company c. 1989. By 1996, Lindheim had opened his own consulting business, J. Lindheim and Company, and was still consulting for Philip Morris.

McDaniel, Janice (PM Political Mobilizations Administrator)

120 Park Ave. c. 1993

Mckittrick, B.

Merlo, Ellen (PM Corp. Affairs VP)

Marketing Services prior to 1986. Understood use of nicotine addiction in selling PM products.

Morgan, L.I.

Nicoli, David P. (PM Washington Relations Office, c. 1992-94)

PM Legislative Council, 1992. PM Washington Relations Office, 1994.

Pfeil, Michael E. (PM Section Sales Mgr)

Defense

Roberts, P.

Scruggs, John F. (PM Mgmt Corp. Federal Government Affairs Office)

VP Federal Government Affairs (Tobacco) PM Management Corp.cc. 2/2000, Alexandria, Virginia (2085318084-Fax letterhead 2001)

Sorrells, J.

Spector, J.

Sylvia, David (PMMC Dir. of Public Policy & Research, c. Nov. 2000)

Sylvia David was Director of Public Policy and Research at Philip Morris Management Company circa Nov. 2000. Assisted with PM's management and programs to enhhance its corprate image.

Vitobello, L.

Walls, Tina A. (PM St. Gov. Affairs VP, c.1996)

Vice President of State Government Affairs for Philip Morris circa 1996

Williams, S.

Wilson, G.B.

Region

United States

Named Organization

Congress

(DOJ) U.S. Department of Justice

PM

White House

Litigation

Feda/Produced

Named Person

Lindheim, James B. (Executive VP and Dir. of Public Affairs of Burson Marstellar)

James B. Lindheim worked for Burson Marstellar public relations company c. 1989. By 1996, Lindheim had opened his own consulting business, J. Lindheim and Company, and was still consulting for Philip Morris.

Nicoli, David P. (PM Washington Relations Office, c. 1992-94)

PM Legislative Council, 1992. PM Washington Relations Office, 1994.

Williams, Scott (Bozell Sawyer Miller Group (BSMG), a PR firm)

Type

EMAI, E-MAIL

Subject

lawsuit