Tobacco Documents Online

~ FOR IrL,MEDiATZ RE-LEASE OCTOBER 13, 1974 - Office of the White House Press -Secretary - ------------------------------------------------- - ------ ----------- THE WHITE HOUSE - - TEXT OF A hFTTET_? -r ROM THE PRESIDENT -TO DFt.- Jp1MATHAN E. RHOADS, CHAI_R_'?A:SI,- - NATIONAL C aNCER ADVIBOity. BOARD - Dear Dr. Rhoads : October 18, 197•4 ° I have - receivzd and reviewed- a pr.eli.*~sinary copy- of the 1974 annual report of the National Cancer Advisory- -$oard-. In several piaces,--the Board's report ~eco:~*:ends Federal regulatioh of the tar and nicotirio _ content of -cigarettes. -- The report does not, however, provide an assessment of the sciem-ific evidence at hand which-should provide the basis for such regulation. In order that alll concerned may be fully informed, I would like to request that the National Cancer Advisory-Board review the existing scientific evidence on an urgent basis and provide me with an assess:r,en t of the extent to which _ there -exists a scientific basis for responsible.regulation of cigarettes. I recognize that all questions of regulation nece s sari ly. involve a certain amount of reasonable disagreement as well as- the exercise of sound judgment. NeverthelessF it-is critically important that our judgments be soundly based so that we may proceed with the greatest amou:: t of wisdom. I know I can count on the National Cancer Advisorj- Board to provide me with scientific advice on-this important matter-of public concern. I would greatly appreciate the Board's assessment by December 1, 1974. Sincerely, GERALD R. FORD s