Tobacco Documents Online

PH I LIP MORRIS U.S.A. 120 PARx.AVENUE.. NEw YORK. N.r.100f7 STEVEN G- PARRISH 12121 i B80•7074 GENERAL COUNSEL i SENIOR VICE PRESIOENT EMCRNAC AFFAIRS March 18,1994 Mr. John Martin ABC World News 1717 De Sales Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036 Dear Mr. Martin: I am writing regarding the latest In a series of reprehensible actions by you and ABC News. In response to a call from ABC News I spoke with you Tuesday afternoon, March 16. You asked, among other things, for my reaction to statements made earlier in the day by Rep. Richard Durbin and FDA Commissioner David Kessler. I responded to you on the record to the comments of both Congressman Durbin and Commissioner Kessler as well as to your questions regarding nicotine levels in our cigarettes. ABC World News Tonight did not air a segment on the issue the night of March 16, but the next day, more than 12 hours after you and I spoke, ABC World News This Morning, in a segment reported by you, carried a story on the Durbin and Kessler statements. In that story, ABC News claimed: "Asked for comment by ABC News, Philip Morris had no immediate response." As you obviously know, not only did Philip Morris have a response, it was provided to you more than 12 hours before the story aired the next day.: I find this deliberate distortion to be reprehensible, but, unfortunately, based on recent activities by you and ABC News, I do not find it to be surprising. cc Mr. Roone Arledge Mr. Thomas Murphy N O N CJ N N m O N