Smoke in Their Eyes: Lessons in Movement Leadership from the Tobacco Wars

Chronology of Key Events

311 Chronology of Key Events 5/23/94 – First state legal action against the tobacco companies filed by Mississippi attorney general Mike Moore, with the support of trial lawyer Dick Scruggs. 4/7/96 – In the Sunday New York Times Magazine, Richard Kluger, historian of the tobacco wars, pronounces the time ripe for public health advocates to “dance with the devil” and forge a grand compromise with the tobacco companies. 11/96 – First indirect settlement talks between Moore and Scruggs and tobacco industry representatives begin. 11/18/96 – Meeting of tobacco control advocates convened by Matt Myers and Richard Daynard to explore common ground on settlement terms with the industry. 4/3/97 – Philip Morris CEO, Geoffrey Bible, and RJR CEO, Steven Goldstone, meet in Crystal City, Virginia, with state attorneys general , trial lawyers, and Matt Myers to initiate secret global settlement negotiations. 4/16/97 – Secrecy blown as the Wall Street Journal discloses the existence and much of the substance of the negotiations. 4/25/97 – Federal district court in Greensboro, North Carolina, upholds FDA claim to legal authority to regulate tobacco products. 5/28/97 – “Peace” meeting of tobacco control advocates convened by the American Medical Association in Chicago. 312 Smoke in Their Eyes 6/5/97 – First meeting of Koop-Kessler Advisory Committee, in Washington , D.C. 6/20/97, 3:15 P.M.– Global settlement reached and announced. 9/17/97 – President Clinton convenes attorneys general and public health leaders in the Oval Office to announce principles to guide White House position on tobacco legislation developed by Congress. 10/1/97 – ENACT coalition formed and publishes full-page ad in Washington Post supporting Clinton principles. 11/25/97 – Anti-immunity coalition announced and named SAVE LIVES, NOT TOBACCO, the Coalition for Accountability. 4/1/98 – Senate Commerce Committee votes 19–1 to approve and send McCain bill to the Senate floor. 5/18–21/98 – Senate floor debate. 5/21/98 – Senate votes 61–37 to adopt Gregg amendment stripping McCain bill of liability caps. 6/17/98 – Senate defeats cloture motion 57–42 to end debate and bring the bill to a Senate vote, effectively defeating McCain’s effort to pass his bill. ...