Images (51)
Document
| id |
id
26413439
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 51November 14, 1997
MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
FROM:
Jerry Mande
SUBJECT:
Tobacco
This memorandum provides background for your Monday Washington Post interview.
Specifically, it provides a timeline for your activities on the FDA tobacco rule, and it provides a
brief history of your involvement on the 1984 cigarette labeling bill.
FDA Rule
Your direct role on the FDA rule began on Friday afternoon, May 5, 1995. At that time, I
brought to you the conclusions of FDA's investigation of nicotine-containing tobacco products
and FDA's proposed rule. I informed you we would soon be ready to bring this to the White
House. You told me you wanted to take this issue to the President personally, asked that we
build in time for you to do so, and arranged for me to work with Quinn to plan a successful roll-
out strategy. (If you want to take some credit for events prior to May 5, you could point out that
you had previously placed your long-term health aide at FDA to work on this and other issues.)
The next key dates were in May and June, 1995. I don't know the exact dates, but during this
time you spoke to the President about this issue. I believe your discussions with the President
included at least one lunch and several Wednesday night meetings.
Finally, in July, 1995 the President, you, Secretary Shalala, and Kessler met in the residence where
the President was briefed, and the President made the final decision to move forward. On August
10, 1995, the President and you announced the proposed FDA rule at an East Room press
conference. On August 23, 1996, the President and you announced the final FDA rule at a Rose
Garden ceremony. And on February 28, 1997, on Kessler's last day, the President and you
announced that the first provisions of the FDA rule went into effect at a Roosevelt Room press
conference.
1984 Cigarette Labeling
Prior to the debate on cigarette warning labels, you had established a unique position on tobacco.
You were a champion of the public health with the earned trust of the public health community.
But you were also a friend of tobacco farmers. It was a position that resulted in part from many
Upper Cumberland open meetings. As a result, in a world where most public health advocates
viewed tobacco manufacturers and farmers as indistinguishable parts of a monolithic evil empire,
Relations
belongs_to