Tobacco Documents Online

STATEMENT BY HORACE R. KORNEGAY, PRESIDENT OF THE TOBACCO COMPANY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON SMOKING & HEALTH, WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1979. Tobacco is one of America's first and oldest agricultural and commercial enterprises. Tobacco sustained the colonies, supported the revolutionary army, helped nurture our infant republic, and has been a major contributor to the nation ever since. Still, it has always been a source of controversy, though in varying degrees of intensity. No one is more concerned about the current smoking and health contro- versy than the millions of Americans associated with the growing distribution, and manufacturing of tobacco and tobacco products. For the past 25 years, the tobacco industry has been. dedicated to resolving this controversy through scientific research. To that end, we have supported totally independent investigations with completely non-restrictive funding. So far, our commnitment totals $75 million, which have been provided to hundreds of researchers in medical schools, hospitals, and other scientific institutions, in this country and abroad. This research has been reported in more than 2,000 published papers, making a considerable contribution to the world store of scientific literature.

-2- For the past 20 years, Congress has-held many hearings on the subject. Numerous scientists were invited to testify at these_hearings, and as , a result, a massive record has been established. Much of this record was made by scientists whose research findings raise serious questions about charges against tobacco. In contrast there are the.reports from the Depart- ment of HEW. In 1964, there was the report of the Advisory Committee to the Surgeon General. Tomorrow, we will get the 15th anniversary version of it. Both reports -- then and now were produced in great secrecy and calculated to have maximum media impact. Then as now, they essentially were reviews of selected scientific literature made by HEW staff and its consultants. Then as now, they provided little or no opportunity for comment by those who might have different views. It should be noted that our written request and our Freedom of Inforination request were denied. The HEW procedure was conducted more like a military operation than a scientific endeavor. Unfortunately, this one-sided treatment is typical of those whose personal zeal has led them to declare war against tobacco and tobacco smokers. U3'763"L14 The American people, would be better served if high government officials abandoned the pretenses and sham battles of so-called wars against diseases and their alleged causes.

The process of making public policy is better served when scientific controversies are illuminated by reasoned deliberation rather_than emotional rhetoric. Nature will not yield her secrets to media events, propaganda barrages; self- righteous zeal, or cabinet-level fiat, but only to the steady advance of scientific knowledge. Knowledge does not flourish in a lock-step society; it grows best under conditions of unfettered investigation and free, fair and full discussion. In that spirit, we offer for your consideration, this document, which -- while not intended to be ekhsustive -- raises"-important questions in the continuing smoking and health controversy. These questions require serious consideration. They must not be brushed aside. - - We believe that a careful and critical reading of this document -- and a careful and critical-reading of the HEW report -- should provide perspective on the conventional claims that have been made again and again against tobacco. For example: ~ - It has never been shown that tobacco smoke causes disease in nonsmokers. o3'7s3515 Studies of smoking women and their children have produced inconsistent findings making it impossible to draw convincing conclusions.

-4- The almost exclusive focus on individual smoking habits in the study of cancer may have delayed needed research into occupational and environ- mental causes. Charges regarding smoking and lung cancer must seriously be questioned because of the failure to consider critically three factors: 1. Important diagnostic advances 2. Changes in the reported frequency of lung cancer cell types 3. Inconsistent trends in cigarette smoking patterns and lung cancer death rates. Indeed, many scientists are becoming concerned that the preoccupation with smoking may be both unfounded and dangerous -- unfounded because the evidence on many critical points is conflicting, dangerous because this preoccupation diverts attention from other suspected hazards.