Now, read the following article that provides an account of the issues that led to the "Smoking Gun" cartoon. This article is a factual, unbiased account of the discovery of the R.J. Reynolds documents. Notice that the writer does not try to sway the reader one way or the other. 

 

Documents Reveal R.J. Reynolds Targeted Children By George Rodrigue The Dallas Morning News,  Thursday, Jan. 15, 1998  Reprt. San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune WASHINGTON -- For decade, the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. marketed cigarettes to children as young as 13, according to previously secret company documents. The documents appear to contradict sworn statements made by company executives to Congress and to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Reynolds Tobacco stands by its long-held commitment to reduce youth smoking," it said. The latest attack on the tobacco industry’s marketing efforts comes as Congress is about to resume debate on the national settlement proposal. One key question facing lawmakers I how stiff to make the fines that firms must pay if rates of teen-age smoking do not decline. Waxman argued the R.J. Reynolds papers "reveal that tobacco companies have an enormous financial state in attracting teen smokers." He also suggested that the industry’s history indicates it will try to circumvent marketing controls.  Among those documents:   A Sept. 30, 1974, presentation to the board of directors of RJR industries. It said that "the 14-24 age group …represents tomorrow’s cigarette business." It also called for the firm to "direct advertising appeal to younger smokers." An April 1976 study – "Smokers Screening Profile (14-17) – of 11,000 teenagers’ smoking habits, family backgrounds and religious beliefs. Waxman said it contradicted the firm’s 1996 statement to the FDA that it studied only "lawful smokers aged 18 and over." R.J. Reynolds said the study was a "byproduct" of adult surveys, never used for marketing. A July 22, 1980, memo from RJR marketing vice president G. H. Long to company chairman Edward A. Horrigan titled "Report on Teen-age Smokers." It complained that RJR’s share of customers age 14 to 17 was declining. But, it added "hopefully our various planned activities that will be implemented this fall will aid in some way in reducing or correcting these trends." The documents indicate RJR contemplated using "a comic strip-type copy" to attract young smokers in the 1970s. As late as 1990 a report on boosting Camel sales said that "target smokers are approaching adult-hood."