Grassroots
(Tobacco company efforts to organize smokers) Wanted to create the appearance of a massive, upset electorate becoming vocal and active to oppose public health smoking restrictions, tax increases on cigarettes, etc.Several U.S.-based tobacco companies, most notably Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, in the late 1980's and early 1990's made massive attempts to organize smokers into supposedly "independent" grassroots groups. The companies used their databases of information on smokers to try and get them to do the tobacco industry's political bidding. The companies attained some success, and strove to keep their involvement behind the scenes and undetectable.