Tobacco Documents Online

;W:,.. 4tz _&J -d-.v<F DR.A.W.SPEARS E%ECUTIVE V/CE PRESIOENT OPERFTIONS 6 RESEARCH 19191 313-6]7B . - /~ ~: , cY.. TW 4. September 25, 1981 Dr. Thomas B. Owen Program Director for Smoking and Health National Institutes of Health 7910 Woodmont Avenue Landow Bldg., Room 8C18 Bethesda, Maryland 20205 : Dear Dr. Owen: In the past when I served as an advisor to NCI, I set forth the basis on which I served in letters to Dr. Endicott (March 1968), Dr. Gori (May 1972), Dr. Peters (Sept. 1974), and Dr. Gori (March 1978). I have enjoyed serving in the past as a member of the Tobacco Working Group at NCI and hope that my knowledge of tobacco chemistry will be of value to the Ad Hoc Program Advisory Group on Passive Smoking at NCI on September 30. As you know, I am Executive Vice President, Operations and Research, for Lorillard and I fully realize that this identification follows me in whatever I do. However, it should be clearly understood, as in the past, that I am not serving as an official representative or spokesman for my company or for the tobacco industry. I do not agree with the premise that cigarettes are hazardous or that a causal relationship between smoking and human disease has been established. It is not my intention to disrupt or in any way interfere with the work of those advising NCI by continuously repeating this position, nor by protests or objections to reports which may be made. Nonetheless, I would not want my failure to express disagreement with any activity to be misinterpreted as agreement. I trust you understand and appreciate my comments. BC: Mr. A. J. Stevens + letter from Dr. Owen AWS/hsh A DIVISION OF LOEW9 THEATRES,INC. 2525 East Market Street Greensboro,North Carolina 27401