Document OzMQN0O7kBYVK4M3ynNqm35ej

General Headquarters May 16, 1966 H. M. Ball W. P. Gibbons Roger Hackney C. W. Hite H. M. Jackson A. B. Marchant G. H. Martens, K. V. Lindell W. P. Raines A. C. Smith K. W. Smith 4s'. JfJ . t/.. i tT . V Public Relations Project On Public Health Aspects of J-M Products Initial meeting of above Task Force Group was held May 11. Decisions made have resulted in the following actions: 1. Advertising and Public Relations has retained (as of May 11) Hill & Knowlton to serve as public relations counsel on the public health aspects of all J-M raw materials and finished products. 2. Indoctrination meeting with Hill & Knowlton will be held at 2:00 p.m.. May 18, involving Messrs. Lindell, Jackson, Sheckler, Solon and Raines with Bill Lanigan observing. Hill & Knowlton personnel: Bert Goss, Chairman of the Board; Dick Darrow, President; and Carl Thompson, Account Executive. At this meeting, we will turn over to Hill & Knowlton, all information -- medical reports and papers, meeting minutes, publication clippings, motion pictures -- everything that could help in giving Hill & Knowlton a thorough and rapid introduction to the subject. 3. Hill & Knowlton`s initial assignment will be to assemble and interpret existing information and medical research findings to: MT-002699 2- - 6 a. Determine J-M's potential exposure in the area of environ mental health. b. Determine the "ammunition", if any, that presently exists which would be suitable to rebut public criticism and answer questions from employees, customers, etc. c. Determine possible directions medical research might take to fill gaps in existing information. d. Determine possible areas Manville Research might examine, with respect to health-related characteristics of some of our own as well as competitive products (e.g. Transite and cast iron pipe). 4. As chairman of Task Force Group, Jack Solon assisted by Bill Raines will maintain these prime contacts: a. Asbestos Fibre Division and QAMA -- Roger Hackney. b. Industrial Relations -- Hugh Jackson c. Legal Department - Herb Ball d. Manville Research - Bus Smith and Jack Solon will report to C.B.Burnett and Task Force Group as work progresses. 5. Jack Solon has requested from Roger Hackney all background on QAMA organization and past pertinent activities. Karl Lindell will bring these to the Hill & Knowlton indoctrination meeting on May 18. 6. Jack Solon will review the legal aspects of the project with Herb Ball, including investigation of Washington legal counsel if appropriate -- and possible monitoring of the first cigarette/ .cancer trial in San Francisco beginning June 6 Philip Morris is defendant. Melvin Belli is attorney for the plaintiff. The Task Force Group (all addressees of this memo) will meet with C. B. Burnett in the Small Board Room, June 13, 11:00 a.m. for an interim progress report. Please plan to attend. F. J. Solon, Jr cc-C. B. Burnett