Tobacco Documents Online

1' ' .. .- HILL wxiD KNOWLTON, INC. May 5, 1967 INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM SUBJECT: Summary of Recent News and Editorial Comment Following,are brief descriptions of'recent news developments. The page numbers refer to the attached representative cl'ippings. A special report will be issued shortLy on the new U.S. study, "Cigarette Smoking and Health Characteristics.''"' Researchiand Medical Based on a stud{y of twins, two Staedish researchers concluded that cigarette smok- ing is "probably not associated with coronary heart disease.," and that constitutional andigenetic differences between smokers.and nonsmokers might account for higher coro- nary heart disease:rates among smokers. When the Associated Press was alerted to the paper, its science editor prepared a lengthy story which was widely published with helpful headlines. (pp. 1-3) A British scientific journal carried an editorial saying,cigarettes could boost a person's "will to succeed!." A United Press International story on the editorial re- ceived press and television attention. (p. 4) Roswell Park Memorial Institute study (published in an American Cancer Society publication) listed'"tar" andinicotine contents of 5&brands of cigarettes. The arti- cle charged *hat some filters yield more "tar°1 and nicotine than nonfilters; urged smokers toluse lower content brands. Much of coverage carried Tobacco Institute's statement on "tar" and!nicotine. Heavy coverage~, including television,,radio and magazines. (pp. 5-6) _ Sloan-Kettering Institute said in a progress report that there seems to be a link between cancer and a breakdown in the body's immunological defense mechanisms. (p. 6). New York State's Health Commissioner called~for development of a''''safe" cigarette, charging,that cigarettes kill more Americans than bullets, germs or viruses. (p. 7) Anti-Smoking Activities Editorial and five-page lead article in Tobacco Reporter critically evaluates the National Clearinghouse on Smoking and Health; reveals future plans for Public Health Service's anti-smoking activities. Editorial asks: "Has the government exceeded its limits,of responsibility?" (pp. 8-13) At the American Cancer Society's Seminar for Science Writers (PalmiBeach, Fla.), ACS President Ashbel Williams said plans are:being made to provide psychiatric treat- ment for smokers who can"t quit. (p. 14) He also said adults are quitting,smoking, but youngsters!are taking it up. (p. 14) A Harvard doctor reported that smoking behavior is.established by age 15. (p. 15) Dr. Hammond of'ACS said that develop.ingal"safe"' cigarette iso going, to be "extremely difficult." (pp. 16-17) At an American Cancer Society fund-raising meeting at North Carolina, Dr. Charles Mayo II said, "There i&no conclusive evidence that smoking causes cancer." (p: 18). ~,jri

Editorial Report 2 smoking. (p. 18) urged colleges to bar cigarette sales on campus and to establish policies to discourage := The American College Health Association, at its annual meeting (Washington, D.C.) Cigarette Advertising will stop using radio advertising if they are forced to include a health warning. (pp. A National Association of Broadcasters official told the group that cigarette makers 19-20) In a "letter to the editor" in Advertising Age, a Philadelphia advertising man called on "creative people" in the advertising business to refuse to work on cigarette advertising. (p. 21) President Frank Stanton has been trying to bar or limit cigarette advertising on that A book by a former Columbia Broadcasting System executive (Fred Friendly) says CBS • network. (p. 21) General A lengthy feature on smoking and health by Associated Press writer Robert Golden- : stein was widely published. The article cites various materials provided, including industry actions and views that conflict with those of the Public Health Service. (pp.' • • ;, ••,. 22-25) ; ,4= A New York pathologist, appearing at a press conference to promote the sale of a book, said the Surgeon General's Advisory Committee report "lacked scientific objec- tivity" and "suppressed evidence." (pp. 26-27) Rep. Donald J. Erwin (D., Conn.) said that the government "should keep its big fat bureaucratic nose out of the nation's vitamin bottles and cigarette packs." (p. 28) 1966 consumption figures show increase in consumption and shipments of cigarettes. Americans smoked 541 billion cigarettes (68.2% filtered) in 1966; per capita consump- tion was 4,290, up 31 from 1965. (pp. 28-29) An exchange of letters on tobacco in the editorial columns of the New York Times was touched off by an editorial entitle&"Man-Made Epidemic." (pp. 29-31) Tobacco executives spoke out against anti-smoking activities in annual statements, speeches to stockholders. (pp. 32-34) Two English companies (Imperial Chemical and Imperial Tobacco) formed a new company to develop a synthetic tobacco. (p. 35) Pennsylvania newspaper comments whimsically on taking "all the joy out of living including that cup of java in the morning." (p. 36) Indianapolis Star, in a tongue-in-cheek editorial, comments on warnings in cigarette advertising. (p. 36) Oregon pharmacists are marketing their own brand of cigarettes, called "Cancer." (p. 37)