@ Subtitles generated with Happy Scribe 00:00:00:00 00:00:04:41 - [Person at table] I ain't going to sing no songs. - [Person off screen] Don't step into-- 00:00:04:41 00:00:06:98 the table where the microphone is laying, ok? 00:00:08:17 00:00:09:17 Say something. 00:00:09:36 00:00:11:74 - [Person at table] What do you want me to say? 00:00:16:57 00:00:20:68 - [Ms. Horne] ...And to the members of Edgecombe County, especially homemakers, 00:00:20:88 00:00:25:87 who provided the refreshments, which will follow the forum. 00:00:26:71 00:00:29:77 [crosstalk 00:00:27] 00:00:30:40 00:00:32:79 --And to thank you, Wendy, 00:00:32:80 00:00:36:80 of Edgecombe Technical College for her help in recording these proceedings. 00:00:37:40 00:00:40:16 Tobacco Perspectives is made possible by a branch 00:00:40:36 00:00:42:60 of the North Carolina Humanities Committee 00:00:42:80 00:00:45:68 and the National Endowment for the Humanities. 00:00:45:88 00:00:49:68 These are nonprofit organizations supported by private donations and public 00:00:49:88 00:00:52:60 tax funds, which are dedicated to the purpose 00:00:52:80 00:00:57:60 of bringing together adult members of non-academic communities with 00:00:57:80 00:01:02:68 practicing members of the humanities: philosophers, historians, authors, etc. 00:01:02:88 00:01:06:96 The ideas and conclusions expressed through the evening's forum 00:01:07:16 00:01:12:00 do not necessarily follow those of the funding agent. 00:01:12:20 00:01:14:44 Tobacco Perspectives is sponsored mostly 00:01:14:64 00:01:17:56 by the library, by the Friends of the Library, 00:01:17:76 00:01:21:80 the Edgecombe County Historical Society and the Tarboro Arts Commission. 00:01:22:00 00:01:25:92 Many other local groups have worked to help make the event possible. 00:01:26:12 00:01:28:20 Any local group which might be interested 00:01:28:40 00:01:32:80 in sponsoring a presentation with funds from a humanities grant should contact 00:01:33:00 00:01:38:48 Ms. Godwin at the library or speak with one of us after the presentation tonight. 00:01:38:76 00:01:42:31 Tonight, we will move out of the field and barn, 00:01:42:31 00:01:47:92 where Mrs. [?] fell down last night, into the laboratory and County House. 00:01:48:12 00:01:51:92 Our speakers will help us to consider tobacco under pressure. 00:01:51:99 00:01:54:48 Leading off will be Dr. Michele Ibrahim, 00:01:54:65 00:01:58:40 Chairman of the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health 00:01:58:60 00:02:01:44 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. 00:02:01:44 00:02:03:92 Dr. Ibrahim was trained in medicine 00:02:04:12 00:02:09:80 at the University of Cairo School of Medicine, and he got his 00:02:10:00 00:02:17:52 Ph.D. At the University of North Carolina School of Public Health in 1964. 00:02:17:72 00:02:20:76 He served as the Public Health Commissioner 00:02:20:96 00:02:24:00 of Erie County, New York, and was associate professor 00:02:24:20 00:02:28:80 at the University of New York School of Medicine at Buffalo. 00:02:29:40 00:02:30:60 Our other speaker will be 00:02:30:60 00:02:35:88 Reggie Lester, managing director of the Tobacco Growers Information Field in Raleigh. 00:02:36:60 00:02:41:40 Mr. Lester has had a number of interesting occupations, 00:02:41:24 00:02:51:44 including press aide for Terry Sanford during his presidential bid in 1974--'76. Excuse me. 00:02:51:92 00:02:55:56 He also has worked as a reporter for the Durham Sun, 00:02:55:76 00:03:00:88 as a public relations representative for the general telephone company 00:03:01:80 00:03:06:44 of the Southeast, the Leggett Group, and has worked as a marketing agency 00:03:06:64 00:03:12:80 specialization--specialist-- in the Grand Prix Auto Racing in Durham. 00:03:13:28 00:03:16:80 Mr. Lester was born in Sanford 00:03:17:00 00:03:19:84 and educated in the public schools of Fayetteville and 00:03:20:40 00:03:25:64 Cumberland County. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1972. 00:03:25:88 00:03:28:64 The moderator for this evening is 00:03:28:84 00:03:33:56 Dr. Gene Purcell, professor of philosophy at Atlanta Christian College in Wilson. 00:03:33:76 00:03:37:80 Dr. Purcell, who farms tobacco and serves as a Methodist minister 00:03:37:28 00:03:41:52 in addition to his scholarly pursuits, has helped many times and in many ways 00:03:41:72 00:03:45:24 in the past, and will run a marathon course in the next month or so 00:03:45:44 00:03:49:20 working with the humanities program is his part of the state. 00:03:49:40 00:03:52:44 Following the 20 minute statements by each speaker, 00:03:52:64 00:03:55:97 Dr. Purcell will ask for audience questions and comments, 00:03:55:97 00:04:00:96 and he will summarize the ideas put forth this evening. 00:04:01:16 00:04:04:96 Now I'd like to call on Dr. Ibrahim to lead off. 00:04:13:77 00:04:16:12 - [Dr. Ibrahim] thank you very much, Ms. Horne. 00:04:16:32 00:04:17:76 Can you hear me all right? 00:04:19:56 00:04:21:64 Dr. Purcell, ladies and gentlemen, 00:04:21:84 00:04:27:80 I am very pleased to speak to you tonight on this very nice evening. 00:04:28:00 00:04:31:00 The title of my talk 00:04:31:20 00:04:34:76 was given as "Tobacco and Health Effects: 00:04:34:96 00:04:37:76 An Epidemiologist's View." 00:04:37:96 00:04:40:72 And I thought I would present to you tonight 00:04:40:92 00:04:48:92 the epidemiologist's view on the issue of tobacco and health, from a broader context 00:04:49:12 00:04:52:00 of the epidemiologist's view on health 00:04:52:20 00:04:56:76 and risk factors in the population at large. 00:04:56:96 00:05:02:56 Perhaps one should begin by asking, "Who--and what--is an epidemiologist?" 00:05:02:76 00:05:07:47 Often it's very hard to tell people what an epidemiologist is. 00:05:07:51 00:05:15:24 In contrast to the doctor in the hospital or in private practice-- 00:05:15:44 00:05:17:32 whose primary concern 00:05:17:52 00:05:23:44 rests with examining the health state of the individual patient, 00:05:23:64 00:05:25:92 searching for causes 00:05:26:12 00:05:32:88 of the patient complaint and prescribing the proper medicine-- 00:05:33:80 00:05:37:36 in contrast to that kind of a doctor, the doctor epidemiologist 00:05:37:56 00:05:43:12 is concerned with the study of the distribution and pattern of disease 00:05:43:32 00:05:46:12 of a total community. That total community could be 00:05:46:32 00:05:51:28 the United States; it could be a state, like North Carolina; it could be a county; 00:05:51:48 00:05:53:80 it could be a town. 00:05:53:80 00:05:57:52 So that's what the epidemiologist is concerned about-- 00:05:57:72 00:06:06:16 the disease and health state of a total community. In order to perform his or her job, 00:06:06:36 00:06:11:44 the epidemiologist draws a sample of people 00:06:11:88 00:06:19:32 and asks them--or gets their permission-- to undertake a clinical examination 00:06:19:52 00:06:25:36 by a doctor, which may include electrocardiogram, 00:06:25:56 00:06:27:36 blood pressure, 00:06:28:68 00:06:32:56 what sugar, or what fat, cholesterol? 00:06:32:76 00:06:35:28 And also to ask the individuals 00:06:35:48 00:06:39:72 in the sample to answer a few questions about their 00:06:39:72 00:06:44:80 usual habits, be it eating, 00:06:44:28 00:06:48:12 drinking, exercise, smoking, 00:06:48:32 00:06:52:40 sense of time, urgency in performing various tasks-- 00:06:52:60 00:06:55:20 some people call this behavior "Type A," 00:06:55:40 00:07:01:00 a person who's always in a rush, in a hurry, to do certain things-- or whatever habits 00:07:01:20 00:07:06:80 and lifestyles that seem to affect people's health. 00:07:06:88 00:07:09:40 Having collected this information, 00:07:09:60 00:07:13:88 the clinical information, as well as the habits, 00:07:14:80 00:07:20:16 on this sample of people, the epidemiologists and the research staff 00:07:20:36 00:07:24:24 watch the population for several years 00:07:24:88 00:07:31:36 to find out what kinds of diseases develop in that population. 00:07:32:36 00:07:34:56 Using statistics, 00:07:34:76 00:07:42:60 the epidemiologist can relate a specific disease to a specific habit 00:07:42:80 00:07:49:96 or pattern of lifestyle of that population on the basis of these relationships. 00:07:50:16 00:07:53:88 The epidemiologists can draw inferences 00:07:54:80 00:08:00:44 about risk factors that contribute to the appearance of disease in that population. 00:08:00:64 00:08:04:80 So briefly, that's what the epidemiologist does and how 00:08:04:28 00:08:11:40 he or she can come up with relationships between specific factors and disease. 00:08:11:24 00:08:14:32 Let me give you an example. 00:08:14:52 00:08:20:80 A good example of the epidemiologist approach may be found in a study 00:08:20:28 00:08:27:12 carried out in a small town in Framingham, Massachusetts, around 1960. 00:08:27:32 00:08:29:76 I'm sorry, around 1950. 00:08:30:12 00:08:31:60 This well-known study, 00:08:31:80 00:08:36:44 the Framingham Heart Study, which is a household word by now, 00:08:36:64 00:08:42:96 provided us with the so-called "risk factors" of heart attacks. 00:08:43:40 00:08:47:80 These factors included high levels of blood pressure; 00:08:48:00 00:08:54:36 high level of serum cholesterol, or blood fat; high levels of blood sugar, 00:08:54:56 00:09:00:76 heavy smoking; lack of physical activity and excessive weight gain. 00:09:01:36 00:09:06:94 Incidentally, a similar study-- a study similar to the Framingham Heart Study-- 00:09:07:14 00:09:11:64 was carried out in 1960, about 10 years later than Framingham, 00:09:11:84 00:09:15:36 and it was carried out in Evans County, Georgia. 00:09:16:00 00:09:18:80 Which is called the Evans County Heart study 00:09:19:00 00:09:23:72 and referred to by some people as "the Framingham Heart Study of the South," 00:09:23:92 00:09:25:96 which is as big as Framingham 00:09:26:16 00:09:34:24 and came up with the same kind of results like the Framingham Heart Study came up with. 00:09:34:34 00:09:38:84 The populations of Framingham and Evans County 00:09:39:40 00:09:44:66 have been followed up for several years. The Framingham population started in '50-- 00:09:44:86 00:09:47:92 1950--so we've followed up for about 30 years, 00:09:48:12 00:09:53:24 and the population of Evans County showed here has been followed up for 20 years. 00:09:53:44 00:09:57:24 And during all these follow-ups, 00:09:57:44 00:10:04:44 these risk factors have been looked at to see what contributes to what disease. 00:10:04:64 00:10:11:40 Having identified these so-called "risk factors," the next logical step 00:10:11:60 00:10:14:96 in combating heart disease 00:10:15:16 00:10:20:48 is to identify those people who have risk factors-- 00:10:20:68 00:10:25:24 the ones I mentioned-- before they have the heart attacks 00:10:25:88 00:10:30:70 and help them to lower the risk of heart attack 00:10:30:84 00:10:35:00 by changing their behaviors or habits. 00:10:35:68 00:10:41:28 There are now several attempts at the national level to do just that. 00:10:41:48 00:10:45:84 One such effort is called the HDFP 00:10:46:40 00:10:49:90 --and I'm going to do this, actually, because as we go, I'm going to give you 00:10:49:90 00:10:51:79 other examples that make some sense. 00:10:51:80 00:10:55:28 "H" stands for "hypertension" or "high blood pressure," 00:10:55:48 00:10:57:60 "D" for "detection," 00:10:57:80 00:11:00:96 "F" for "follow up," and "P" is "program." 00:11:01:16 00:11:05:24 HDFP: hypertension, detection, and follow-up program. 00:11:05:44 00:11:07:92 For several communities in the U.S., 00:11:08:12 00:11:13:96 about 15 of them participated in a systematic 00:11:14:16 00:11:20:76 program for the detection and rigorous treatment of high blood pressure. 00:11:20:96 00:11:25:84 The result of these efforts indicated 00:11:26:40 00:11:32:32 that vigorous and continuous treatment of high blood pressure could be done 00:11:32:52 00:11:39:80 and could result in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases in the country. 00:11:39:28 00:11:41:96 As a result, the National Heart, 00:11:42:16 00:11:47:80 Lung and Blood Institute-- that's the parent agency which funded 00:11:48:00 00:11:51:28 these activities-- the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 00:11:51:48 00:11:56:80 is now engaging in promoting programs throughout the U.S. 00:11:57:00 00:12:05:28 to enhance the capabilities of communities to detect and treat blood pressure. 00:12:05:48 00:12:10:43 One of these programs, actually one out of three programs nationally, 00:12:10:63 00:12:12:88 is right here in Edgecombe County. 00:12:13:80 00:12:16:72 The Community Medicine Foundation, represented by 00:12:16:92 00:12:19:76 Dr. Lawrence Hutchins and his associates, 00:12:19:96 00:12:24:40 here in Tarboro, in conjunction with our school, the School of Public Health 00:12:24:60 00:12:28:72 at Chapel Hill, are working on a community program 00:12:28:92 00:12:31:56 to control high blood pressure in the county. 00:12:31:76 00:12:35:80 And as I said, this is one out of three in the whole country. 00:12:36:00 00:12:40:56 So that's the hypertension effort at the national level. 00:12:40:61 00:12:41:75 The National Heart, 00:12:41:76 00:12:47:52 Lung and Blood Institute is engaged in two other significant activities. 00:12:47:72 00:12:51:48 One of these activities is designed 00:12:51:68 00:12:59:28 to see if changes in people's levels of zero cholesterol or people's levels of 00:12:59:72 00:13:03:64 blood fat, by either diet 00:13:03:84 00:13:07:44 drugs, or both, 00:13:07:64 00:13:11:48 would be accompanied by reductions in cardiovascular disease. 00:13:11:68 00:13:16:00 This is the lipid-- lipid or fat--Lipid Research Program. 00:13:16:20 00:13:19:96 LRC program. Again, there are about 15 communities 00:13:20:16 00:13:26:20 in the U.S. participating in this program, plus three other communities: 00:13:26:40 00:13:31:80 one in Canada, one in Israel, and one in the Soviet Union. 00:13:31:28 00:13:35:12 Participants in this lipid research program. 00:13:35:32 00:13:40:48 This research effort, the lipid research program, is conducted by several clinics, 00:13:40:68 00:13:43:12 as I said, and it's coordinated 00:13:43:32 00:13:46:68 in Chapel Hill by the School of Public Health. 00:13:47:16 00:13:52:60 The other major research activity conducted by the National Heart, Lung, 00:13:52:80 00:13:58:32 and Blood Institute is aimed at modifying three risk factors combined. 00:13:58:52 00:14:01:68 One, we said is hypertension, the HDFP. 00:14:01:88 00:14:07:32 One is lipid or blood fat, LRC, lipid research clinical program, 00:14:07:52 00:14:11:36 and the third measure activity is a program 00:14:11:56 00:14:17:68 to combat the problems of heart attack by dealing with three risk factors: 00:14:17:88 00:14:21:68 high blood pressure, high serum cholesterol, and heavy smoking. 00:14:21:88 00:14:23:24 These three. 00:14:23:44 00:14:32:28 This activity is referred to as the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. 00:14:32:48 00:14:34:67 If you take this first letter of each word: 00:14:34:68 00:14:43:30 "multiple risk"--"MR," "factor"--"F," intervention, trial, it really spells "MR. FIT." 00:14:43:31 00:14:47:70 So this is kind of a nice acronym to deal with: MR. FIT program. 00:14:47:74 00:14:50:47 The results from these two studies, the lipid program 00:14:50:47 00:14:55:52 and the MR. FIT program, have not been published yet. 00:14:55:72 00:14:59:40 These studies I mentioned, cardiovascular diseases, represent 00:14:59:24 00:15:05:96 an important aspect of the work of the epidemiologist to date. 00:15:06:16 00:15:08:76 Epidemiologists are also interested 00:15:08:96 00:15:14:72 in the study of other important diseases, such as cancer. 00:15:14:96 00:15:20:00 One method used to study the problem of lung cancer, for example, 00:15:20:20 00:15:25:16 is to identify a group of patients with lung cancer 00:15:25:36 00:15:26:85 and a comparison group. 00:15:27:53 00:15:29:84 You compare a group of patients who have lung cancer, 00:15:30:40 00:15:33:32 in this instance, and a group of controls, 00:15:33:52 00:15:36:56 or comparison group. These could be a group of patients 00:15:36:76 00:15:42:32 with diseases other than lung cancer or a group of healthy individuals. 00:15:42:52 00:15:46:28 And you do the comparison between these two groups. 00:15:46:48 00:15:49:88 The epidemiologist inquires about several factors 00:15:50:80 00:15:53:56 in the two groups. Such studies, as you are aware, 00:15:53:76 00:15:58:00 have revealed that heavy cigarette smoking is an important 00:15:58:20 00:16:02:72 risk factor in the occurrence of lung cancer. 00:16:02:92 00:16:09:52 The influence of other factors, such as genetic predisposition, 00:16:09:72 00:16:12:48 or susceptibility, 00:16:12:68 00:16:16:40 and occupational or environmental exposure-- 00:16:16:24 00:16:18:64 these are two big other factors-- 00:16:18:84 00:16:22:64 the genetic predisposition of susceptibility to lung cancer 00:16:22:84 00:16:28:28 and the occupational or environmental exposure are also important 00:16:28:48 00:16:30:44 in addition to smoking. 00:16:31:28 00:16:38:60 For example, it's well known that the combination of exposure to asbestos in the workplace 00:16:38:80 00:16:46:48 and smoking is extremely hazardous to one's health in terms of acquiring lung cancer. 00:16:46:68 00:16:48:72 This whole area of the occupation, 00:16:48:92 00:16:54:96 of industry, is an important area in epidemiology, occupation epidemiology, 00:16:55:16 00:16:58:40 where the findings have been instrumental 00:16:58:60 00:17:02:80 in setting standards for levels of exposure to industry. 00:17:03:00 00:17:08:76 And this is a whole field of endeavor where the epidemiologist can get training. 00:17:09:76 00:17:14:80 To zero in for a minute on the lung cancer, cigarette smoking, 00:17:15:00 00:17:20:24 which, presumably, is one of the important topics need to be discussed tonight, 00:17:20:44 00:17:22:80 but let me say this: 00:17:22:28 00:17:24:32 most scientists 00:17:24:52 00:17:30:00 agree that heavy cigarette smoking is associated with lung cancer, 00:17:30:20 00:17:34:92 heart disease and some other conditions such as these. 00:17:35:12 00:17:40:44 Most scientists also agree that there are other factors 00:17:40:64 00:17:41:88 that are important. 00:17:42:80 00:17:44:88 And that counts for such conditions. 00:17:45:80 00:17:48:72 For example, let me say a few statistics here. 00:17:48:92 00:17:50:88 We know that 00:17:51:80 00:17:57:12 of about a 100,000 deaths from lung cancer 00:17:57:32 00:18:02:24 every year in the United States, at least 20 percent, 00:18:02:44 00:18:07:88 or about 20,000 deaths, occur in non-smokers. 00:18:08:80 00:18:13:48 20,000 deaths of these 100,000 occur in non-smokers. 00:18:13:68 00:18:18:80 Since lung cancer occurs in non-smokers, there must be other factors besides 00:18:19:00 00:18:24:84 cigarette smoking that helps to promote the development of lung cancer. 00:18:25:40 00:18:28:40 These factors may be found-- and here I quote 00:18:28:24 00:18:31:24 a study published in Nature-- 00:18:31:24 00:18:39:32 "These factors may been found in the genetic makeup of the individual and or industrial environment." 00:18:40:40 00:18:42:76 Another important observation is the fact 00:18:42:96 00:18:48:64 that the overwhelming majority of cigarette 00:18:48:84 00:18:52:36 smokers do not get lung cancer, 00:18:52:56 00:18:57:38 which again indicates that cigarette smoking alone is not sufficient 00:18:57:38 00:19:03:52 in the development of lung cancer and that other factors, known or unknown, must be present 00:19:03:72 00:19:05:52 in addition to cigarette smoking 00:19:05:72 00:19:10:00 before lung cancer can develop. These general observations, 00:19:10:20 00:19:15:68 that if the occurrence of lung cancer in non-smokers and the non-appearance 00:19:15:88 00:19:22:92 of lung cancer in the majority of smokers--although I'm not diminishing 00:19:23:12 00:19:25:72 the importance of cigarette smoking-- 00:19:25:92 00:19:32:40 do point to the existence of other risk factors for lung cancer. 00:19:32:24 00:19:36:36 We don't really know why these two facts exist. 00:19:36:56 00:19:38:60 Many smokers do not get lung cancer, 00:19:38:80 00:19:42:36 and some person who never smokes gets lung cancer. 00:19:42:56 00:19:47:00 Epidemiologists are trying to learn why this is so. 00:19:47:36 00:19:52:56 And to learn not only what other risk factors are involved, 00:19:52:76 00:19:58:00 but why some person can smoke and suffer no apparent harm. 00:20:00:00 00:20:04:24 There are at least two major approaches 00:20:04:44 00:20:09:80 that are being taken to deal with tobacco use. 00:20:09:52 00:20:15:56 One is health education programs designed to help 00:20:15:76 00:20:20:72 smokers to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked or to stop smoking. 00:20:20:92 00:20:23:65 Efforts along these lines, 00:20:23:72 00:20:29:32 the health education lines, have generally not been successful. 00:20:29:52 00:20:32:80 Smokers find it difficult to stop smoking. 00:20:33:00 00:20:37:80 Many of them attribute various benefits from smoking. 00:20:38:00 00:20:43:84 Smokers cite benefits such as the ability to cope with stress, 00:20:44:40 00:20:50:92 to stay calm in the face of adversities, or to keep their weight under control. 00:20:52:32 00:20:57:80 Since health education programs are directed to all smokers, 00:20:58:00 00:21:01:56 that could be one of the problems why they don't work. 00:21:01:80 00:21:04:00 It becomes very difficult 00:21:04:20 00:21:06:60 to persuade all smokers 00:21:06:80 00:21:11:88 to stop smoking since the majority of them will not develop lung cancer. 00:21:12:80 00:21:15:28 In essence, if you think of --they're about, 00:21:15:48 00:21:18:96 perhaps, 40 million people who smoke in this country, 00:21:19:16 00:21:24:84 and there's about 80,000 lung cancers that develop in the smokers group. 00:21:25:40 00:21:28:32 So roughly, out of about 1,000 smokers, 00:21:28:34 00:21:32:48 two or three individuals will develop lung cancer. 00:21:32:48 00:21:34:95 The risk will not-- that's why I said the 00:21:34:96 00:21:38:56 overwhelming majority of smokers do not develop lung cancer. 00:21:38:76 00:21:41:56 It wouldn't be ideal if we could know 00:21:41:76 00:21:45:56 who are these two or three people out of a thousand 00:21:45:76 00:21:48:76 who smoke and also are destined to get lung cancer, 00:21:48:96 00:21:52:96 and we could target the programs toward these individuals. 00:21:53:16 00:21:57:16 Unfortunately, this information is not available. 00:21:58:36 00:22:01:86 The second approach-- one is health education-- 00:22:01:87 00:22:04:20 the second approach is to embrace attempts 00:22:04:40 00:22:07:28 to produce a safer cigarette, 00:22:07:72 00:22:11:36 which hopefully would be available to the public one day. 00:22:11:56 00:22:14:80 Recent studies in the United Kingdom 00:22:15:44 00:22:20:32 reveal that the average tar yield of cigarettes 00:22:20:52 00:22:29:36 manufactured between 1934 and 1979 has declined by 50 percent. 00:22:29:56 00:22:37:00 The average tar yield of cigarettes between '34 and '79 declined by 50 percent, 00:22:37:20 00:22:41:68 "which may," and again, I'd like to quote the British Medical Journal, 00:22:41:88 00:22:46:64 "which may explain the reduction in lung cancer in the U.K." 00:22:48:16 00:22:51:20 By law, as I understand it, 00:22:51:40 00:22:56:20 the average tar of Canadian cigarettes must go down each year. 00:22:57:40 00:22:59:96 With reference to the tolerance of nicotine content, 00:23:00:16 00:23:03:20 the impact of cigarettes smoked today 00:23:03:40 00:23:10:60 must be different compared to cigarettes smoked before 1960. 00:23:11:28 00:23:21:80 Somebody made a calculation and found that smoking two cigarettes before 1960 00:23:22:68 00:23:27:28 will be similar to not smoking in terms of mortality from lung cancer. 00:23:27:48 00:23:30:72 So, two cigarettes were equivalent to no smoking 00:23:30:92 00:23:33:52 in terms of mortality from lung cancer. 00:23:33:72 00:23:39:84 Today, it takes 17 cigarettes-- manufactured today-- 00:23:40:40 00:23:45:84 to give the same tar yield as two cigarettes manufactured before 1960. 00:23:46:28 00:23:51:88 So one may infer what this might mean: 00:23:52:80 00:23:58:16 that the person today who smokes not more than 17 cigarettes a day, 00:23:58:60 00:24:02:15 which is the equivalent of two cigarettes per day before 1960, 00:24:02:35 00:24:04:68 would have a mortality risk of a non-smoker. 00:24:04:88 00:24:10:12 That needs to be documented. But this would be an inference to be made. 00:24:11:52 00:24:15:88 So these are the studies then, in heart disease and cancer. 00:24:16:80 00:24:19:20 Briefly conducted by the epidemiologist. 00:24:19:40 00:24:24:40 And we can see that cigarette smoking is related to lung cancer and heart disease. 00:24:24:40 00:24:27:92 And let me say here that the relationship with smoking 00:24:27:93 00:24:32:40 to lung cancer is much stronger than to heart disease. 00:24:32:40 00:24:37:80 Lung cancer is something like 10 to one, and the heart disease would be about two to one. 00:24:37:28 00:24:39:52 Efforts to deal with this problem include 00:24:39:72 00:24:43:92 health education, the development of a safer cigarette, 00:24:44:12 00:24:49:64 and the development of knowledge as to why so many persons 00:24:49:84 00:24:58:20 can smoke all their lives without harmful effects as far as lung cancer is concerned. 00:24:58:40 00:25:01:80 Epidemiologists study all sorts of risk factors, 00:25:02:00 00:25:06:72 in addition to cigarette smoking, in order to find out hazardous behaviors, 00:25:06:92 00:25:12:00 stressful physical or mental conditions of the human body, 00:25:12:20 00:25:16:32 and toxic environmental and ingestion of substances. 00:25:16:52 00:25:20:80 The ultimate purpose of epidemiology is to improve the health state 00:25:21:00 00:25:28:48 of populations by promoting behaviors and practices that prove to be healthy. 00:25:28:68 00:25:32:80 I'll stop here, and then I'll take questions later. Thank you. 00:25:32:60 00:25:36:70 [applause] 00:25:45:24 00:25:46:72 - [Mr. Lester] Good evening. 00:25:46:88 00:25:48:60 Howdy, folks. 00:25:50:43 00:25:54:84 As Bernie Tide [?] would say, at tobacco meetings, he expects a "howdy" back. 00:25:54:95 00:25:57:21 So, good evening, and howdy, folks. 00:25:57:41 00:25:58:41 - [audience] Howdy. 00:26:00:00 00:26:04:64 - [Mr. Lester] It's a real pleasure to be with you tonight to talk about my favorite subject. 00:26:04:84 00:26:07:20 --Well, maybe my second favorite subject. 00:26:07:80 00:26:10:17 I don't know what you're thinking about, Chris. 00:26:10:17 00:26:12:79 I'm talking about Carolina football. 00:26:12:80 00:26:17:80 Wasn't that sad news about Calvin? Maybe he'll be back next year. 00:26:17:76 00:26:22:32 It is a great pleasure to be with you and to talk about America's golden leaf. 00:26:22:68 00:26:26:88 Tobacco is used in every nation in the world and cultivated in many of them. 00:26:27:80 00:26:29:23 But the finest leaf has grown 00:26:29:24 00:26:32:44 in the United States. Since the early colonial days, 00:26:32:64 00:26:36:40 American Tobacco has been the most desirable 00:26:36:24 00:26:40:80 in terms of making cigarettes, chewing and slugging tobacco, and snuff. 00:26:41:00 00:26:43:52 And this fact played a prominent role, not 00:26:43:72 00:26:48:76 only in the development of this country, but in its economic survival as well. 00:26:48:96 00:26:52:40 No American product has had a more dramatic history. 00:26:52:24 00:26:55:32 The roots of this republic are in tobacco soil. 00:26:55:52 00:26:57:96 It was our first agricultural product, 00:26:58:16 00:26:59:56 our first export-- 00:26:59:76 00:27:02:16 indeed, our first industry. 00:27:02:36 00:27:04:24 The hundreds of thousands of people 00:27:04:44 00:27:09:40 in the American tobacco industry today are proud of this heritage and proud 00:27:09:24 00:27:12:76 that their work makes the future even brighter. 00:27:12:76 00:27:18:36 There are, however, difficult challenges that the people in the modern tobacco industry must face. 00:27:18:56 00:27:20:64 Despite tobacco's distinguished role 00:27:20:84 00:27:24:84 in our nation's history and culture, pressure is being placed on federal, 00:27:25:40 00:27:31:40 state and local governments to curb and in some cases eliminate the use of tobacco. 00:27:31:24 00:27:35:48 Anti-smoking groups have encouraged the passage of laws discriminating against 00:27:35:68 00:27:39:40 the 60 million people who use tobacco products. 00:27:39:24 00:27:43:40 Raising fundamental issues of personal freedom. 00:27:43:44 00:27:45:40 In the years since the report made 00:27:45:60 00:27:49:60 to the Surgeon General in 1964 about smoking and health, 00:27:49:80 00:27:53:80 there is but one fact that emerges. 00:27:53:28 00:28:01:48 It is not only unquestioned by all sides, but everyone fully agrees with it. 00:28:01:68 00:28:06:36 And that fact is that everyone has heard the message. 00:28:06:56 00:28:10:84 Those years have given Americans 14 words that are more familiar, 00:28:11:40 00:28:13:88 researchers say, than the free speech, 00:28:14:80 00:28:18:88 free worship and free press guarantees of the First Amendment. 00:28:19:80 00:28:20:40 What are those words? 00:28:20:60 00:28:23:64 Well, let's take a test for cave dwellers. 00:28:23:84 00:28:26:58 Is there anybody here who has not heard the statement: 00:28:26:58 00:28:31:84 "Warning: a Surgeon General has determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health?" 00:28:32:12 00:28:37:00 Those of us in the tobacco family feel that once the warning words have been 00:28:37:20 00:28:44:20 passed, whether it's aspirin or asbestos, sweeteners or swordfish, 00:28:44:40 00:28:49:64 alcohol or tobacco, the responsibility of government has been met. 00:28:49:84 00:28:53:24 Its job is over. The behavior, 00:28:53:44 00:28:58:72 the choice and the decision now belongs to the individual. 00:28:59:16 00:29:03:28 Now, despite these challenges, the tobacco industry is a substantial, 00:29:03:48 00:29:07:44 vigorous and important segment of our nation's economy. 00:29:07:48 00:29:09:28 It is an industry that millions upon 00:29:09:48 00:29:12:52 millions depend upon, from the farmer in the field 00:29:12:72 00:29:18:24 to the independent trucker on the highway, from the wholesaler to the local retailer. 00:29:18:44 00:29:20:32 These Americans share in the benefits 00:29:20:52 00:29:26:80 of a free enterprise industry whose origins and growth have paralleled those of our nation. 00:29:27:00 00:29:30:32 You know, tobacco they used for centuries in this country 00:29:30:52 00:29:36:16 before Christopher Columbus first entered the word and his log book in 1492. 00:29:36:36 00:29:40:40 The earliest known use of tobacco is attributed to the Mayan priests of Mexico 00:29:40:60 00:29:45:88 in the 4th century A.D. Explorers who first observed its use eventually 00:29:46:80 00:29:49:36 began to capitalize on its commercial promise. 00:29:49:52 00:29:52:31 By the late 1500s, men like Sir Walter Raleigh 00:29:52:32 00:29:56:88 of England had introduced the leaf to the European aristocracy. 00:29:57:80 00:30:00:36 As the Jamestown colony verged on economic collapse, 00:30:00:56 00:30:04:00 businessman farmer John Rolfe obtained tobacco seeds 00:30:04:20 00:30:09:32 from the West Indies and planted them in the rich Virginia soil-- 00:30:09:52 00:30:13:60 the first time the crop was truly cultivated in America. 00:30:13:80 00:30:17:76 When a few hundred pounds of the mellow leaf were shipped to England at 1613, 00:30:17:96 00:30:22:84 the quality of America's first commercial export created a great demand. 00:30:23:40 00:30:25:36 In fact, it was the economic potential 00:30:25:56 00:30:30:88 of this new product that attracted many new settlers to the New World. 00:30:30:89 00:30:32:84 In fact, America's tobacco industry has 00:30:33:30 00:30:36:88 grown so dramatically that its impact is felt throughout the nation's economy. 00:30:37:80 00:30:41:40 For example, in 1979, the total direct and indirect contribution 00:30:41:60 00:30:46:76 of the tobacco industry was $57.6 billion. 00:30:46:91 00:30:50:16 That's about two and a half percent of the gross national product, 00:30:50:36 00:30:53:36 an impressive contribution for one industry. 00:30:53:56 00:30:57:60 Tobacco is grown in 22 states, although its principal production is in 00:30:57:80 00:31:05:64 North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. 00:31:05:64 00:31:07:35 There are almost 200,000 00:31:07:36 00:31:10:88 American farms that grow tobacco as a principal crop. 00:31:11:80 00:31:15:24 These farms are worked primarily full time by the families that own them, 00:31:15:44 00:31:19:24 often with help from seasonal workers hired during the harvest. 00:31:19:44 00:31:25:60 More than 500,000 farm families depend upon tobacco for their livelihood. 00:31:26:36 00:31:29:92 And in the United States, about 95 percent of the tobacco grown is 00:31:30:12 00:31:34:40 sold at auction markets that register over $2 billion in sales yearly 00:31:34:60 00:31:39:52 and employ more than 17,000 full and part time workers. 00:31:39:72 00:31:42:44 Additionally, some 70,000 workers operate 00:31:42:64 00:31:47:84 high speed machinery and maintain quality control in the manufacturing plants. 00:31:47:84 00:31:49:71 These people are supported by 00:31:49:71 00:31:55:00 countless suppliers of materials and equipment and numerous service organizations. 00:31:55:20 00:31:56:84 These companies include some 00:31:57:40 00:32:00:52 of the country's largest manufacturers and shippers, 00:32:00:72 00:32:06:12 as well as hundreds of small businesses. Farm equipment, fertilizers, 00:32:06:32 00:32:10:88 construction materials, heating units for curing, flat straw fiber 00:32:11:80 00:32:16:40 for cigarette paper, factory machinery and precision instruments for laboratories-- 00:32:16:24 00:32:18:32 these are only some of the supplies 00:32:18:52 00:32:22:16 and equipment required by tobacco farmers and manufacturers. 00:32:22:36 00:32:25:44 In one year alone, millions of pounds of aluminum foil 00:32:25:64 00:32:29:60 and moisture-proof cellophane, together with billions of printed labels 00:32:29:80 00:32:34:40 and cardboard boxes, go into the making of cigarette packages. 00:32:34:24 00:32:39:20 The result is a complex manufacturing and service network that greatly extends 00:32:39:40 00:32:42:16 the importance of tobacco in our nation's economy. 00:32:42:36 00:32:44:44 It translates into millions of jobs 00:32:44:64 00:32:49:48 and adds hundreds of millions of dollars to personal and business income to people 00:32:49:68 00:32:54:44 in every state of the nation. From factories to retail outlets, 00:32:54:44 00:32:59:84 nationwide distribution of tobacco products is primarily by trucks on our nation's highways. 00:33:00:40 00:33:04:28 Freight cars are also used and, sometimes, ships and planes. 00:33:04:44 00:33:06:40 The swift and efficient delivery 00:33:06:24 00:33:10:52 of cigarettes alone, all at a rate of 1.7 billion 00:33:10:72 00:33:14:92 every day, is a triumph of transportation logistics. 00:33:15:12 00:33:18:32 Finished tobacco products fresh from the factory 00:33:18:52 00:33:23:16 are deposited in public warehouses located in the most active marketing centers. 00:33:23:36 00:33:27:96 From there, delivery is made to more than 1,500 primary wholesalers. 00:33:28:16 00:33:33:60 They distribute tobacco products to a million and a half retail outlets. 00:33:34:12 00:33:40:27 Some of these outlets include independent food stores, convenience stores, supermarket chains, drugstores, 00:33:40:27 00:33:42:36 restaurants, and tobacco shops. 00:33:42:36 00:33:46:60 About 40 percent of all cigarettes are purchased at supermarkets. 00:33:46:80 00:33:53:12 Cigarettes cross retail counters more frequently than any other product, exceeding in dollar value 00:33:53:32 00:33:58:60 the retail revenues from milk, paper and poultry and bread. 00:33:58:80 00:34:00:80 Vending machines are also important. 00:34:01:00 00:34:06:60 They account for 12 percent of retail cigarette sales. 00:34:06:60 00:34:13:54 Cigarettes are the largest single item in the vendor's inventory, representing almost one quarter of his total volume. 00:34:13:68 00:34:17:12 This is more than canned and bottled drinks combined. 00:34:17:32 00:34:19:48 Major American manufacturers produce 00:34:19:68 00:34:24:80 one-sixth of the world's total annual production of tobacco products. 00:34:24:28 00:34:29:64 Nearly 10 percent is exported, attesting to the popularity of American cigarettes. 00:34:30:68 00:34:32:52 More to the point in this area, 00:34:32:72 00:34:37:80 about 40 percent of all American leaf is exported, and indeed, in North Carolina, 00:34:38:00 00:34:42:96 with our flue-cured leaf, some 50 percent of the leaf is exported. 00:34:43:16 00:34:47:67 America's annual trade deficit would be far greater if not for the $2 billion 00:34:47:68 00:34:53:44 surplus gained from the exports of leaf tobacco and manufactured products. 00:34:53:44 00:35:00:20 The government has also benefited from domestic sales in terms of taxes on tobacco products. 00:35:00:20 00:35:06:28 Tobacco taxes were one of the principal sources of revenue from 1863, when they were first levied, 00:35:06:48 00:35:11:40 until the passage of the federal income tax Amendment in 1913. 00:35:11:24 00:35:16:60 Today, more than $6 billion is paid in tobacco excise taxes every year 00:35:16:80 00:35:20:60 to federal, state, county and municipal governments. 00:35:20:80 00:35:27:40 That's more than one third of the $21.3 billion dollars spent annually on tobacco products. 00:35:27:60 00:35:30:84 And it's a lot more than tobacco farmers make. 00:35:31:40 00:35:35:24 Collections of federal excise taxes go into the government's general fund. 00:35:35:44 00:35:39:60 State and municipal treasuries allocate income from this revenue to educational 00:35:39:80 00:35:44:40 and health facilities, highways, public welfare, housing developments, 00:35:44:60 00:35:49:52 veteran bonuses, old age assistance and recreational facilities. 00:35:49:72 00:35:52:40 Today, tobacco excise tax collections are 00:35:52:24 00:35:57:36 exceeded only by excise tax revenues from alcoholic beverages and gasoline. 00:35:57:56 00:35:59:84 Since the imposition of tobacco taxes, 00:36:00:40 00:36:06:00 more than $131.5 billion dollars has been collected. 00:36:06:20 00:36:11:32 In 1979, the total taxes collected from the tobacco industry amounted 00:36:11:52 00:36:16:48 to nearly $30 for every man, woman and child in the United States. 00:36:16:68 00:36:22:40 This sizable contribution benefits all Americans and all American communities. 00:36:22:55 00:36:24:40 Over half of the average retail price 00:36:24:60 00:36:28:80 of a pack of cigarettes goes for taxes to one level of government or another. 00:36:29:00 00:36:32:28 The rest is divided among the members of the tobacco family. 00:36:32:28 00:36:37:84 This leads to the collection of substantial income taxes by federal, state and municipal governments 00:36:38:40 00:36:42:52 from manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers and other related 00:36:42:72 00:36:46:48 industries, and from the people who work for them. 00:36:46:64 00:36:48:78 Now, these numbers are very impressive, 00:36:48:78 00:36:52:92 and they give us sort of a national perspective on tobacco for the U.S. economy. 00:36:52:92 00:36:58:34 But what about North Carolina? And more specifically, what about Edgecombe County? 00:36:58:64 00:37:01:20 North Carolina ranks first in tobacco farming. 00:37:01:40 00:37:04:80 We grow more tobacco in this state than any other in the nation-- 00:37:05:00 00:37:11:64 some 43 percent of all leaf produced in the United States and two thirds of the flue-cured variety. 00:37:11:84 00:37:15:88 More workers are employed in tobacco farming in North Carolina than any other. 00:37:15:88 00:37:17:72 Over 200,000 farm families 00:37:17:72 00:37:21:44 in North Carolina are involved in the harvesting and growing of tobacco 00:37:21:64 00:37:26:20 on approximately 44,000 farms in 82 counties. 00:37:26:40 00:37:30:44 North Carolina ranks first in the manufacturing of tobacco products. 00:37:30:64 00:37:34:56 There are 20 tobacco manufacturing and processing plants in our state. 00:37:34:76 00:37:39:32 More than 24,000 workers are needed to operate these facilities. 00:37:39:41 00:37:41:16 All told, they constitute more than 00:37:41:36 00:37:47:12 a third of all U.S. tobacco manufacturing employment right here in our state, and it's growing. 00:37:47:32 00:37:50:84 Philip Morris is building a new facility for Cabarrus County. 00:37:51:40 00:37:55:32 North Carolina ranks second in auction warehousing with about 650 employees 00:37:55:52 00:37:58:80 working full time in these colorful markets. 00:37:58:80 00:38:04:60 North Carolina has the second largest support industry contribution, the 12th largest share of wholesaling, 00:38:04:80 00:38:07:52 and the ninth largest share of retailing and vending. 00:38:07:52 00:38:12:72 And if the federal government ends their efforts with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 00:38:12:92 00:38:17:52 the retailing level should go up because we'll probably see more cigarette smoking. 00:38:17:52 00:38:23:60 It's estimated that there are approximately 70,000 full time jobs in the industry here 00:38:23:80 00:38:27:36 for people involved between the seed bed and the sales counter. 00:38:27:37 00:38:31:32 Of course, the number of seasonal workers increases this number dramatically. 00:38:31:32 00:38:33:74 Almost 2,600 more North Carolina jobs 00:38:33:94 00:38:37:54 are in industries which support the manufacturing of cigarettes, 00:38:37:74 00:38:41:20 including the makers of tow, or the fluffy white filter material; 00:38:41:40 00:38:44:88 the plasticizers that hold the tow fibers together; 00:38:44:90 00:38:49:80 other things such as foil, paper and corrugated containers. 00:38:49:28 00:38:53:14 Tobacco's direct contribution to the Old North State, then, is an estimated 00:38:53:15 00:38:59:16 72,000 jobs, or 3.3 percent of the state's private sector workforce. 00:38:59:36 00:39:04:80 An additional 75,000 others exist because of the golden leaf's spillover effects, 00:39:05:00 00:39:09:20 as that tobacco dollar multiplies and ripples throughout the entire economy. 00:39:09:40 00:39:11:72 Tobacco accounts directly or indirectly 00:39:11:92 00:39:16:12 for one out of every 15 jobs in North Carolina. 00:39:16:32 00:39:22:61 The 148,000 North Carolinians who benefit directly or indirectly from tobacco 00:39:22:71 00:39:27:60 earned $1.6 billion in 1979. 00:39:27:67 00:39:31:36 Directly or indirectly, tobacco generated six percent of all wages 00:39:31:56 00:39:37:56 and earnings paid in 1979 or close to one of every $16 paid here. 00:39:37:76 00:39:42:20 Now you can add to that substantial income tax collections and other tax collections, 00:39:42:20 00:39:44:59 $90 million to the state government-- 00:39:44:60 00:39:47:48 that's three cents out of every one dollar collected-- 00:39:47:51 00:39:49:75 and the federal government got $90 million 00:39:49:76 00:39:54:80 out of North Carolina on the sale of tobacco products. 00:39:54:28 00:39:57:44 Tobacco is more heavily taxed than any other consumer product. 00:39:57:64 00:40:01:64 And these revenues in our state helped finance programs of all types. 00:40:01:64 00:40:05:37 I'm sure that you're aware of the efforts in the last session of the General Assembly 00:40:05:37 00:40:08:11 to increase the cigarette excise tax in North Carolina. 00:40:08:12 00:40:09:27 As I've stated before, 00:40:09:28 00:40:13:12 tobacco is one of the most heavily taxed of all consumer products. 00:40:13:32 00:40:17:12 We in the tobacco family believe that those who enjoy tobacco are more than 00:40:17:32 00:40:20:68 paying their fair share of the cost of operating government. 00:40:20:88 00:40:25:28 North Carolina has the lowest cigarette tax excise rate in the nation. 00:40:25:48 00:40:29:80 It serves as an anchor for the other states. When North Carolina increased or 00:40:30:00 00:40:34:32 enacted its first cigarette tax in 1969, 00:40:34:52 00:40:38:28 38 states raised their rates in the next two years. 00:40:38:48 00:40:39:60 Historically, 00:40:39:80 00:40:44:88 increases in cigarette taxation have led to decreases in consumption. 00:40:45:80 00:40:47:00 And this domino effect can affect all 00:40:47:20 00:40:50:88 North Carolinians--not only the grower and the factory worker, 00:40:51:85 00:40:54:16 but the beautician, the mechanic and the lawyer as well. 00:40:54:36 00:40:58:48 When one commodity is as important to the people of a state as tobacco is 00:40:58:68 00:41:03:64 to ours, it must be protected and defended by all of its citizens. 00:41:03:64 00:41:09:52 Because in North Carolina, when we're talking about tobacco, we're not just talking about another commodity. 00:41:09:72 00:41:12:16 We're talking about people whose hopes, 00:41:12:36 00:41:16:20 dreams and aspirations depend on the golden leaf. 00:41:16:40 00:41:19:88 In Edgecombe County alone, almost 1,800 individuals work 00:41:20:80 00:41:24:94 full-time in jobs that depend directly or indirectly on tobacco. 00:41:25:14 00:41:28:80 Seasonal numbers push this number higher. 00:41:28:28 00:41:31:88 That's about eight percent of the total workforce in this county. 00:41:32:80 00:41:34:92 These workers earn some $15 million, 00:41:35:12 00:41:40:88 or six percent of the total personal compensation in Edgecombe County. 00:41:40:88 00:41:45:84 You can add to that $369,000 paid in local taxes, 00:41:46:40 00:41:49:72 $704,000 paid in state taxes, 00:41:49:92 00:41:53:88 and approximately $4 million paid in federal taxes. 00:41:53:91 00:41:57:75 I think that it's readily apparent that tobacco is important to this nation, 00:41:57:76 00:42:00:72 this state, this county, and to you. 00:42:00:92 00:42:05:80 Now, everyone knows that tobacco creates controversy. 00:42:05:28 00:42:10:40 What's less well known-- or maybe it's known, but perhaps ignored-- 00:42:10:24 00:42:16:40 is that tobacco also creates value, which is measured in terms of mega statistics. 00:42:16:40 00:42:21:16 Those of us in the tobacco family have great confidence in the future of America's golden leaf. 00:42:21:36 00:42:24:36 We have confidence in the members of our tobacco family. 00:42:24:36 00:42:27:42 Our confidence is strengthened by the millions upon millions 00:42:27:42 00:42:32:76 in this country and throughout the world, who, given the freedom of choice, 00:42:32:96 00:42:37:95 will choose to smoke American leaf. There are tides in the affairs of man; 00:42:37:95 00:42:39:68 they ebb, and they flow. 00:42:39:88 00:42:42:92 Right now, I feel the tide is rising for tobacco. 00:42:43:12 00:42:45:12 It is rising because the tobacco economy 00:42:45:32 00:42:49:96 is fundamentally sound, basically strong, and potentially on the upswing. 00:42:49:96 00:42:55:32 A major reason is the ever-growing, worldwide popularity of American blended cigarettes. 00:42:55:52 00:42:58:40 Remember, France may have her champagne; 00:42:58:60 00:43:00:12 Japan may have her [?], 00:43:00:32 00:43:05:12 Germany her Mercedes, but the United States has American blended cigarettes. 00:43:05:32 00:43:07:88 And in that category, we are number one. 00:43:08:80 00:43:12:92 And never forget: American blended means American tobacco. 00:43:13:12 00:43:18:80 Tobacco is a major economic factor in the lives of millions on the farms, 00:43:18:28 00:43:23:16 in the warehouses, factories, wholesale outlets, and in the retail stores, 00:43:23:36 00:43:27:32 and in every state, not just North Carolina. 00:43:27:52 00:43:31:52 The American Tobacco family provides a product used by millions of people 00:43:31:72 00:43:36:80 around the world, and they have every reason to be proud for doing so. 00:43:36:28 00:43:40:28 They realize that the American tobacco industry is rooted firmly in our present 00:43:40:48 00:43:45:84 society, just as it was so rooted so firmly in our nation's past. 00:43:46:40 00:43:50:40 And they look forward to making important contributions in America's future. 00:43:51:90 00:43:54:97 [applause]