Tobacco Documents Online

M.D. Speakers Bureau. [Memo Re: Kingsley-Quinn Ltd and Paid Medical Speakers. (C)]

Abstract

This 1968 Tobacco Institute memo shows that the industry sought to establish a Speakers' Bureau of doctors who would attend medical symposia and speak "on the smoking and health controversy." When the industry was unable to recruit any "physician candidates" for the bureau, it entertained a proposal from an employment recruiting company that specialized in placing physicians in salaried jobs. The proposed fee for such a speaker was $5,000 a month. (According to the Inflation Calculator at http://www.westegg.com/inflation/, $5,000 in 1968 would be worth close to $26,000 in 2002.)

Fields

Notes

According to the Inflation Calculator at http://www.westegg.com/inflation/, $5,000 in 1968 dollars would be worth $25,917.27 in 2002.

This document was used as a trial exhibit in Texas.

Quotes

...Mr. Reeves has advised me that Tiderock independently is unable to furnish physician candidates for consideration as paid speakers at medical meetings on the smoking and health controversy.

He has, however, a proposal from Kingsley-Quinn Limited, a recruiting company which specializes in placing physicans in salaried employement. K-Q will attempt to find candidates at a fee of $5,000 per month.

The Executive Committee approved a budget of $300,000 for this project. I assume this would include salaries, overhead, traveling expenses and employement interview travel expenses....

Knowing the extreme importance of this project, I think Rosser should seek approve al the feed expenditure, for a limited time, from the Executive Committee on May 17.

Company

Tobacco Institute

Author

Kloepfer, William J., Jr. ¹ (TI Public Affairs VP, c. 1988)

Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Relations for the Tobacco Institute

Recipient

Clements, Earle C. ² (TI President, '67-70)

President of the Tobacco Institute, Inc. from 1967 to 1970.

Region

United States

Type

MEMO

EXHIBIT

Litigation

Minnesota AG

TXAG/TRIAL EXHIBIT

Named Person

Reeves, R. ³

Operation/Project

M.D. Speakers' Bureau

Named Organization

Tiderock Corporation (PR firm used by the Tobacco Institute)

Tobacco Institute employed Tiderock to publicize and disseminate an article in True magazine debunking the health hazards of smoking.

Subject

public relations

industry activity

industry front group

industry influence

industry response

industry strategy