Anne Landman's Collection
A Frank Statement to the Public By the Makers of Cigarettes
Abstract
A FRANK STATEMENT TO CIGARETTE SMOKERS was an infamous tobacco industry advertisement from 1954. The ad marked the turning point: the beginning of the tobacco industry's lengthy U.S. misinformation campaign about the health effects of tobacco. Coached by John Hill of the public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, the "Frank Statement" was published in over 400 major newspapers and magazines across the United States as a response to initial public scientific disclosures that cigarette smoking was linked with lung cancer.
Researcher Norbert Hirschhorn M.D. has found a fascinating original draft of The Frank Statement among the Ness-Motley collection of documents on Tobacco Documents Online. The draft contains handwritten marginalia and stricken portions of original text. One can see that the changes made in the original text of the Frank Statement were carefully designed to keep the truth further at bay. In today's posting I have showed the wording that was lined out by using strikeout text and the handwritten comments added in are indicated by italicized text. Following is an example of both the changes and how they are documented:
"We accept an interest in people's health as a basic responsibility paramount to every other consideration in our business.
We believe the products we make are not injurious to health. Science has no proof to the contrary.
We will never produce and market a product shown to be the cause of any serious human ailment.
We always have and always will cooperate closely with the Governmental authorities those whose task it is to safeguard the public health."
Fields
- Notes
Comments: Replaced with authenticated copy on 7/9/97. Related Documents: 39832 Produced by: J. Hill Archives Issues: F-LIE, P-PRG Affected Defendants: H&K No Bates number is available for this document. Document contains a stamp of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Archives Division. A Doc-Alert posting about the original Frank Statement can be seen at http://www.tobacco.org/Documents/dd/ddfrankstatement.html
- Quotes
As corrected by committee, Dec 28, 1953, Hotel Plaza
A FRANK STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC BY THE MAKERS OF CIGARETTES
Recent reports on experiments with animals have given wide publicity to a theory that cigarette smoking is in some way linked with lung cancer in human beings.
Although conducted by doctors of
unquestionedprofessional standing these experiments are not regarded as conclusive in the field of cancer research. However we do not believe that any serious medical research, even though its results are inconclusive should be disregarded or lightly dismissed.At the same time, we feel it is in the public interest to call attention to the fact that
someeminent doctors and research scientists have publicly questioned the claimed significance of these experiments. Distinguished authorities point out:1. That medical research of recent years indicates many possible causes of lung cancer,
2. That there is no agreement among the authorities regarding what they cause is.
3. That there is no proof that cigarette smoking is one of the causes.
4. That statistics purporting to link cigarette smoking with the disease could apply with equal force to any one of
half a dozenmany other aspects of modern life. Indeed the validity of the statistics themselves are questioned bymanynumerous scientists.We accept an interest in people's health as a basic responsibility paramount to every other consideration in our busines.
We believe the products we make are not injurious to health.
Science has not proof to the contrary.We will never produce and market a product shown to be the cause of any serious human ailment. We always have and always will cooperate closely withthe Governmental authoritiesthose whose task it is to safeguard the public health.For more than 300 years tobacco has given solace, relaxation and enjoyment to mankind. At one time or another during those years critics have held it responsible for practically every disease of the human body.
One by one these charges have been abandoned for lack of evidence. Regardless of the record of the past, the fact that cigarette smoking today should even be suspected as a cause of a serious disease is a matter of deep concern for us.
Many people have asked us what we are doing to meet the public's concern aroused by the recent reports. Here is the answer:
1. We are pledging aid and assistance to the research effort to the research effort
to track down the cause of lung cancer, one of the most baffling problems confronting medical research.into all phases of tobacco use. This joint financial aid will of course be in addition to what is already being contributed by individual companies.2. For this purpose we are establishing a joint industry group consisting initially of the undersigned
companies.This group will be known as the- Tobacco Research Committee
3. In charge of the research activities of the Committee will be a scientist of unimpeachable integrity and national repute,
yet to be selected. In addition there will be an Advisory Board of scientists disinterested in the cigarette industry. A group of distinguished men from medicine, science and education will be invited to serve on this Board. These scientists will advise the Committee regarding the most effective ways the industry can help medical researchers identify the cause of lung cancer beyond doubt.4. The committee will undertake to keep the public informed of such facts as may be developed relating to cigarette smoking and health and other pertinent matters.This statement is being issued because we believe the people are entitled to know where we stand on this matter and what we intend to do about it.
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY RESEARCH COMMITTEE SPONSORS (Names of companies to be listed)
* Write for summary of medical and scientific reports on this subject.
- Region
- United States
- Operation/Project
- The Frank Statement
- Type
- Statement - draft
- Subject
- public relations
- advertisement
- advertising campaign
- Corporate strategy
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