Research summary
Research summary
Topic summary
Major corporate cover-ups reflect deliberate, top-down public relations strategies designed to manufacture scientific doubt and evade liabil
Key research questions
- Investigate "The History of Corporate Cover-Ups" from this distinct point of divergence: Deliberate Playbook & Strategic Disinformation.
Important claims and supporting citations
PR agency APCO Worldwide produced an internal memo to Philip Morris regarding the creation of The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC).
According to the Center for International Environmental Law, the PR agency Hill & Knowlton, the Stanford Research Institute, and researcher Theodor Sterling worked on lead and smog issues for the oil industry before working for tobacco.
In the mid-1950s, R.J. Reynolds scientist Alan Rodgman isolated benzopyrene, but President Edward Darr publicly claimed scientists could not find it, and Rodgman subsequently destroyed reports for legal reasons.
In 1992, Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed 60 British American Tobacco documents comprising 47 original studies (35 concerning smoke carcinogenicity and biological activity) alongside reviews confirming nicotine addiction.
Tobacco companies discovered radioactive polonium-210 in cigarette smoke by 1959, conducted quantitative calculations of lung radiation doses, and prohibited publication of the data.
Philip Morris shut down Victor DeNoble's animal nicotine pharmacology lab in April 1984 following visits from company lawyers, killing experimental animals and withholding the findings from publication.
Steven Milloy, who headed The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC)—a group covertly formed by Philip Morris in 1993—served on the American Petroleum Institute's 1998 Global Climate Science Team.
The 1998 API plan outlined targeting teachers and students with climate science uncertainties to erect barriers against future Kyoto-style regulations and sought to recruit national TV journalists like John Stossel.
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A 1978 memorandum by Brown & Williamson counsel Ernest Pepples identified the functions of the Council for To…
A 1978 memorandum by Brown & Williamson counsel Ernest Pepples identified the functions of the Council for Tobacco Research as public relations, legal defense, political responsiveness, and witness recruitment for lawsuits.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
A 1972 Tobacco Institute memo defined the industry's 'holding strategy' as generating doubt without explicitl…
A 1972 Tobacco Institute memo defined the industry's 'holding strategy' as generating doubt without explicitly denying the health charge and defending the right to smoke without urging people to take up smoking.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Frederick Seitz administered roughly $45 million in R.J.
Frederick Seitz administered roughly $45 million in R.J. Reynolds biomedical research funding during the 1970s and 1980s, and was described in a 1989 Philip Morris memo as 'quite elderly and not sufficiently rational.'
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
In the mid-1950s, R.J.
In the mid-1950s, R.J. Reynolds scientist Alan Rodgman isolated benzopyrene, but President Edward Darr publicly claimed scientists could not find it, and Rodgman subsequently destroyed reports for legal reasons.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
Philip Morris shut down Victor DeNoble's animal nicotine pharmacology lab in April 1984 following visits from…
Philip Morris shut down Victor DeNoble's animal nicotine pharmacology lab in April 1984 following visits from company lawyers, killing experimental animals and withholding the findings from publication.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
The Tobacco Industry Research Committee's office was situated one floor below Hill & Knowlton in the Empire S…
The Tobacco Industry Research Committee's office was situated one floor below Hill & Knowlton in the Empire State Building, with 35 Hill & Knowlton staff assigned to it by 1955.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Clarence Cook Little, scientific director of the TIRC, testified that the committee did not research tobacco…
Clarence Cook Little, scientific director of the TIRC, testified that the committee did not research tobacco smoke because it had not been proved carcinogenic, calling such research 'a waste of time.'
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
In 1992, Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed 60 British American Tobacco documents comprising 47 original studi…
In 1992, Imperial Tobacco Canada destroyed 60 British American Tobacco documents comprising 47 original studies (35 concerning smoke carcinogenicity and biological activity) alongside reviews confirming nicotine addiction.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
Grants issued by the TIRC and CTR produced over 7,000 peer-reviewed papers involving at least 25 Nobel laurea…
Grants issued by the TIRC and CTR produced over 7,000 peer-reviewed papers involving at least 25 Nobel laureates, while almost completely avoiding direct causation of smoking.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
The 1998 American Petroleum Institute's Global Climate Science Communications Plan was written by Joe Walker,…
The 1998 American Petroleum Institute's Global Climate Science Communications Plan was written by Joe Walker, named corporate contributors from Southern Company and Chevron, and had an estimated $5,900,000 budget.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
A late-1980s memorandum from Jones Day attorneys to tobacco clients characterized decades of public 'no evide…
A late-1980s memorandum from Jones Day attorneys to tobacco clients characterized decades of public 'no evidence' declarations as 'imprudent' given that company internal files revealed grave doubts for over 25 years.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
Tobacco companies discovered radioactive polonium-210 in cigarette smoke by 1959, conducted quantitative calc…
Tobacco companies discovered radioactive polonium-210 in cigarette smoke by 1959, conducted quantitative calculations of lung radiation doses, and prohibited publication of the data.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition
The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition
Labels: Inferred, Low
1953 Plaza Hotel Meeting
1953 Plaza Hotel Meeting
Labels: Inferred, Low
1969 Brown & Williamson 'Smoking and Health Proposal'
1969 Brown & Williamson 'Smoking and Health Proposal'
Labels: Inferred, Low
Historical Ties Between Tobacco and Oil Industries
Historical Ties Between Tobacco and Oil Industries
Labels: Inferred, Low
1954 'A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers' Advertisement
1954 'A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers' Advertisement
Labels: Inferred, Low
The January 4, 1954 'A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers' advertisement cost approximately $250,000, was p…
The January 4, 1954 'A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers' advertisement cost approximately $250,000, was published in 448 newspapers, and reached an estimated 43 million readers while asserting their products were not injurious to health.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Steven Milloy, who headed The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC)—a group covertly formed by Phili…
Steven Milloy, who headed The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC)—a group covertly formed by Philip Morris in 1993—served on the American Petroleum Institute's 1998 Global Climate Science Team.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
British American Tobacco Chairman Sir Richard Dobson concurrently sat on Exxon's board in the late 1970s whil…
British American Tobacco Chairman Sir Richard Dobson concurrently sat on Exxon's board in the late 1970s while publicly asserting that smoking in moderation is beneficial.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
PR agency APCO Worldwide produced an internal memo to Philip Morris regarding the creation of The Advancement…
PR agency APCO Worldwide produced an internal memo to Philip Morris regarding the creation of The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC).
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, known
Exxon and Shell patented cigarette filters and engaged in joint research agreements with tobacco companies be…
Exxon and Shell patented cigarette filters and engaged in joint research agreements with tobacco companies between the 1960s and 1990s.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
The 1998 API climate plan defined 'victory' as occurring when average citizens and media recognize uncertaint…
The 1998 API climate plan defined 'victory' as occurring when average citizens and media recognize uncertainties in climate science as conventional wisdom.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
The 1998 API plan outlined targeting teachers and students with climate science uncertainties to erect barrie…
The 1998 API plan outlined targeting teachers and students with climate science uncertainties to erect barriers against future Kyoto-style regulations and sought to recruit national TV journalists like John Stossel.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
A former Standard Oil executive wrote a memorandum recommending oil-industry-linked scientists to serve on th…
A former Standard Oil executive wrote a memorandum recommending oil-industry-linked scientists to serve on the Tobacco Industry Research Committee's Medical Advisory Committee.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
According to the Center for International Environmental Law, the PR agency Hill & Knowlton, the Stanford Rese…
According to the Center for International Environmental Law, the PR agency Hill & Knowlton, the Stanford Research Institute, and researcher Theodor Sterling worked on lead and smog issues for the oil industry before working for tobacco.
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, known
On December 14, 1953, the president of the American Tobacco Company, Paul Hahn, convened the heads of leading…
On December 14, 1953, the president of the American Tobacco Company, Paul Hahn, convened the heads of leading US cigarette manufacturers at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, attended by the heads of nearly every major manufacturer except Liggett.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
The 1969 Brown & Williamson document containing the phrase 'Doubt is our product' is a 9-page marketing propo…
The 1969 Brown & Williamson document containing the phrase 'Doubt is our product' is a 9-page marketing proposal titled 'Smoking and Health Proposal' bearing Bates No. 690010951/0959.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
The 1969 Brown & Williamson memo acknowledged internal recognition that smoking was harmful while strategizin…
The 1969 Brown & Williamson memo acknowledged internal recognition that smoking was harmful while strategizing to manufacture a controversy among the general public to counter consensus.
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A 1969 Brown & Williamson internal 'Smoking and Health Proposal' under Project Truth listed explicit goals to…
A 1969 Brown & Williamson internal 'Smoking and Health Proposal' under Project Truth listed explicit goals to undermine faith in the scientific process and establish that there is no scientific evidence.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
The project behind Brown & Williamson's 1969 'Smoking and Health Proposal' was ordered by John W.
The project behind Brown & Williamson's 1969 'Smoking and Health Proposal' was ordered by John W. Burgard, Executive Vice President of Sales and Public Relations, and is believed to have been drafted by Robert A. Pittman with Blaylock, McCarty, and Muije.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
The 1969 Brown & Williamson proposal stated that doubt was also the limit of their product, noting they could…
The 1969 Brown & Williamson proposal stated that doubt was also the limit of their product, noting they could not take a position that smoking was harmful.
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Philip Morris paid PR firm APCO $25,000 per month in 1993 to manage The Advancement of Sound Science Coalitio…
Philip Morris paid PR firm APCO $25,000 per month in 1993 to manage The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC) as a fake grassroots group targeting EPA secondhand-smoke research.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
At the December 1953 Plaza Hotel meeting, tobacco companies agreed to jointly employ and pay PR firm Hill & K…
At the December 1953 Plaza Hotel meeting, tobacco companies agreed to jointly employ and pay PR firm Hill & Knowlton to construct a response to smoking health allegations.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
A December 15, 1953 internal Hill & Knowlton memo documented tobacco executives demanding a public relations…
A December 15, 1953 internal Hill & Knowlton memo documented tobacco executives demanding a public relations campaign that was entirely 'pro cigarette' in nature, while a December 24, 1953 memo framed the issue strictly as a PR problem rather than a scientific one.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known