Ness Motley Documents
Report on Third meeting , Subcommittee on Communications, April 21, 1961
Fields
- Notes
Produced by: PM
Affected Defendants: TII
- Site
- Budd Larner
- Author (Organization)
- H&K
- Original File
- TobDocs1
- Recipient
- Allen, George
- Type
- Memo
- Named Person
- Bowling, James
Document Images
Confidential
CONEIDENTIAL
PR No. ll-61
INFOKMATIONAL M~MORANDUM ' May 2, 1961
To: Mr. George V. Allen, President
The Tobacco Institute, Inc. and
Public Relations Committee
Report on Third Meeting, Subcuu~ittee
on Ce~mun~catlons, April 21, 1961
James C. Bowllzg, chairman of the Public Relations
Committee of the Tobacco Institute, has requested that we
transmit the attached report of the April 21, 196~ zeeting
of the Subcommittee on Communications to you.
Re :
Hill and Know!ton, Inc.
Public Relatior_s Counsel
150 East 42nd Street
New York 17, N.Y.

1961 ~I~ l?Xdv

-2 -
CONEIDENTIAL
That a further effort be made to produce a cogent and
easily understood sun~ary of the scientific c~se against
the .cigarette theory. '~at is needed is a lay publication
rather than a ccmpilaticn of scholarly references. In
view of the "dated" character of the original WRite Paper
and "Science Locks at Smoking" an up-to-date document of
this sort is badly needed and would have m-uy uses.
5. That a flow of positive statements and research releases,
along with an occasional printed summary llke that described
in 4 above, is essential to keep members on the state Com-
munity Relations Com~ttees informed, interested and alert
to the Industry's problem.
6. That the same flow of releases, statements and su~ries is
a_Iso needed to inform state and Federal legislators --
particularly although not excluslvmly those of tobacco
regions -- of the Industry's side of the health issue.
7- That more and mor~ vigorous spokesmanship be arranged both
for the Industry's scientists and for Institute officers as
a means of brezking into print with our views on the health
question.
The subco~ttee does not vish to imply that no legitimate,
Instltutlonal-type publicity projects be undertaken as,
for example, the forthcoming celebration of the Izdustry's
35Oth annivers~. Nevertheless, the subc~nmittee believes
this type of activity ";ill prove v~lueless unless the in-
dustry's primary public relations problem is adequately
met.
(The above is suggestive rather than exhaustive, recognizing
that a creative, flexible and aggresslv~ program is needed
as distinct from a rigid routine of printed periodicals
interspersed with occasional defensive denials of anti-
cigarette charges.) . . " .
The subco~ttee recognizes the difficulty of achieving press attention for
the Industry's view on smoking and health, but regards it as essential to
the future progress of the Indust~ that all other activities be subordinated
to this primary objective. The subcommittee believes that our present program
over-emphasizes the notion of gaining "general acceptance" for the industry
as an economic entity, and that this over-emphasls is, or may appear to be, ,,,
an evasion of the basic issue. It recozmends in the strongest possible way
that the resources of the Institute be focused in a consistent and vigorous
manner on the highly demanding task of gaining exposure for research results
coztradictlng the antl-c!garette theory. It suggests that strict limlta-
tlons, budgetary or otherwise, be applied to the Institute's resources and
those of the agency are funnelled in this direction.

-3-
CONEIDENTIAL
The subcommittee believes a basic change from the present passiv~ public
relations stance in the smoking and health area to an active one is
essential to the future of the cigarette industry.
Res~ectfully and urgently submitted
R. K. Eei~nn - The American Tobacco Company (Chairman)
J. C. Bowling - Fhilip Morris, Inc.
H. Gercken -P. Lorillard Company, Inc.
J. Jones -Sidney J. Wain, Inc. (P. Lorillard)
R. P. Moore - Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company
D. Provost - McCann-Erickson, Inc. (Liggett & Mymrs)
J. M. Ripley - Ivy Lee & T. J. Ross (American Tobacco)
