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Federal Restrictions and Guidelines in Smoking and Politics by A. Lee Frischlet and James M. Hoelfer

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Federal Restrictions and Guidelines in Smoking and Politics by A. Lee Frischlet and James M. Hoelfer

Political policy-making within the bureaucracy is a constantly changing the face within the American government. Previous to the birth of administrative law, elected officials such as legislatures, executives and members of the judicial branch handled these decisions. Roughly, ninety percent of "Laws", governing our everyday life are not even laws. Rather, these are the products of rule-making for quasi-judicial, quasi-legislative administrative agencies. Obviously, administrative decisions affect millions of people. Yet, few if any are able to understand what has been branded the fourth branch of government. Some scholars have …show more content…

When information was released to the public in 1939, tobacco companies found ways to discredit, and silence the public concern. In fact, previous to this tobacco manufacturers claimed an increase in health and medicinal properties for tobacco products. With the formation of the Council for Tobacco Research, in 1954, a direct link was sought between smoking and health related problems. Upon the finding of such evidence major cigarette manufacturers unite.
Under the unified front of The Tobacco Institute, big tobacco sought to change government from within. As stated in the book, "Those who want to initiate change in policy have come to recognize that their cause will succeed only with hard work, careful strategy, and large portions of luck (37)." With the help of former Senators and previously and elected officials tobacco had the ear of government. One such example of this would be former Senator Earle C. Clements of Kentucky. Clements former constituency base of Kentucky had afforded him the experience of dealing with tobacco, as Kentucky and North Carolina are the primary producers of tobacco within the United States. So with this inside knowledge of previously working in Washington, combined with his work in Kentucky, Clements rightfully proposed a compromise between Federal Trade Commission and the six largest cigarette manufacturers he was hired by in 1964.
In January of 1964, the Surgeon

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